Space capsule opened for scientific research

The return capsule of the trial version of China’s new-generation manned spaceship was opened in Beijing, with almost 1,000 devices and materials delivered to various institutions and organisations for further research and experiments.

During the capsule opening ceremony on Friday, 75 research organisations were provided with items relating to various fields, including basic sciences, space life science, space radiation biology, planet protection, plant breeding, herbal and aromatic plant breeding, food nutrition, wine making and biomedicine.

A ceramic 3D printing device, crop seeds and herb seeds were among the items delivered.

The experimental spaceship was in orbit for 67 hours, at a height of between 300km and 8,000km above the Earth’s surface. China’s new large carrier rocket Long March-5B made its maiden flight on May 5, sending the trial version of China’s new-generation manned spaceship into space.

The return capsule successfully came back to the Dongfeng landing site in north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on May 8 and was delivered to Beijing on May 15.