China's First Dedicated Commercial Space Breeding Satellite Launched for Development

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On September 23, the Shaanxi Aerospace Breeding Engineering Technology Research Center and Zhongke Satellite Technology Group Co., Ltd. signed a cooperation agreement at Xi'an University, jointly establishing a Space Biology Space Mutagenesis Joint Laboratory and launching the development of a dedicated commercial space breeding satellite. Xi'an University described the satellite as China's first dedicated commercial space breeding satellite, with plans to build a specialized satellite platform for space biology mutagenesis experiments.

The joint laboratory will conduct research on space biological mutagenesis mechanisms, space-borne experiments on animal, plant, and microbial germplasm, development of in-orbit experimental payloads, as well as germplasm screening and new variety breeding after return to Earth, forming a test chain from space mutagenesis and in-orbit experiments to ground-based breeding. Zhongke Satellite will undertake satellite engineering development, launch, tracking and control, and in-orbit operations, providing space experiment conditions for breeding research teams.

Currently, domestic aerospace breeding experiments mainly rely on satellite piggyback missions and space station experiment tasks. The Shaanxi Aerospace Breeding Engineering Technology Research Center disclosed that the dedicated satellite will be equipped with an experimental platform tailored to the needs of space biological mutagenesis, enabling experimental payloads, in-orbit duration, and experimental conditions to be designed according to breeding missions. This cooperation also establishes a joint laboratory to provide a ground-based research platform for satellite payload development, germplasm piggyback, and post-return screening work.

The joint laboratory held its unveiling ceremony on September 23. It will subsequently open experimental resources to research institutes and breeding units nationwide and carry out joint research projects, talent cultivation, and achievement transformation. Existing official information has not yet disclosed the dedicated satellite's overall technical parameters, payload capacity, orbital altitude, development funding, launch time, or launch vehicle plan.