China has launched the SJ-10 retrievable satellite from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in Gansu province.
Launched on a Long March 2D rocket, the bullet-shaped SJ-10 Satellite is for helping scientists to study microgravity and space life science.
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During its stay in space, the satellite will perform 19 experiments, including microgravity fluid physics, microgravity combustion, space material, radiation effect, microgravity biological effect and bio-technology, before coming back to Earth with results.
Selected from a group of more than 200 applicants, the onboard experiments contain one instrument that will study early-stage development of mouse embryos in microgravity to as indicator of human reproduction in space, while another will study space radiation effects on genetic stability of fruit flies and rat cells, reports Xinhua.
The satellite also carried a Soret Coefficient in Crude Oil experiment, collaboration between National Space Science Center under Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and European Space Agency (ESA) in order to improve scientists’ understanding of oil reservoirs buried underground.
In addition, it will investigate coal combustion and pollutant formation under microgravity onboard the SJ-10. The investigation is expected to help improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions.
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By GlobalDataSJ-10 mission chief scientist Hu Wenrui said: "All experiments conducted on SJ-10 are completely new ones that have never been done before either at home or abroad.
"They could lead to key breakthroughs in our academic research."
Understood to be the second of four scientific satellites under a CAS space programme, the SJ-10 is a returnable probe.
The latest probe is the 25th retrievable satellite launched by China in the past decade, reports PTI.
A total of eight experiments on fluid physics and microgravity combustion will be conducted in the orbital module and others in the re-entry capsule, which is scheduled to land at Siziwang Banner in Inner Mongolia, the landing site for China’s Shenzhou manned space missions and a 2014 test lunar orbiter.
