In a major milestone that can go a long way in sustaining long-term life in space, the astronauts of the youngest space station in the world, the Chinese Tiangong, successfully conducted experimental extra-terrestrial photosynthesis in orbit ahead of its key space exploration missions.
The crew of the Shenzhou-19, a spaceflight to Tiangong, carried out the first in-orbit demonstration of artificial photosynthesis technology, producing oxygen and the components needed for rocket fuel. This achievement came ahead of a long-term space exploration program, including a crewed moon landing before 2030.
The idea behind artificial photosynthesis is the same as that of real photosynthesis, which is how plants turn carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen. The Chinese astronauts used a drawer-shaped apparatus with semiconductor catalysts to turn water and carbon dioxide into oxygen and ethylene, a substance that can be turned into rocket fuel.
“The work is expected to provide critical technical support for human survival and exploration in outer space,” the report added.
The testing centered on an array of technologies that would be critical to the generation of resources and the survival of humans in space, including the conversion of carbon dioxide at room temperature, the accurate management of gas and liquid flows in microgravity, and the high-sensitivity, real-time detection of reaction products. The China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) reportedly said that this innovation will likely serve as a technical basis for the nation’s upcoming manned deep-space exploration missions.
This is not the first time that photosynthesis has occurred in space. The International Space Station (ISS) has earlier conducted photosynthesis experiments for plant growth and to understand the functioning of microgravity.
According to a report in the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post (SCMP), the ISS mostly relies on electrolysis for life support, which uses power from the station’s solar panels to split water into hydrogen and oxygen to give passengers breathable air. According to the report, which cited Katharina Brinkert, a catalysis specialist from the University of Bremen in Germany, the process is effective but energy-intensive. It would not be practical for long trips to the moon or Mars.