Chinese scientists have become the first to successfully grow a plant on the moon.
Cotton seeds carried to the dark side of the moon by China's Chang'e-4 probe earlier this month have successfully sprouted - making them the first known pieces of biological matter to grow there.
The seeds are contained in a seven-inch sealed container alongside rapeseed, potato and arabidopsis seeds - as well as yeast, fruit fly eggs, air and water.
The experiment, led by Chongqing University, marks the first attempt to grow a 'mini biosphere on the moon.'
Images sent back by the probe have shown that the cotton seed has sprouted - with the rapeseed and potato seeds also believed to be doing well.
It marks the first-ever lunar biological experiment.
Seedlings in space! First-ever cotton plant on the Moon growing in #ChangE4 mini biosphere https://t.co/L8YpXqoVIG pic.twitter.com/3NVoCBUn5M
— China Xinhua News (@XHNews) January 15, 2019
While the lunar atmosphere is too thin to sustain life it was not previously known whether it was possible for crops to grow under controlled conditions - as they have on the International Space Station.
The Chinese National Space Administration (CNSA) said it now hopes the crops will form a miniature self-sustaining ecosystem.
It said the chosen seeds had to pass strict tests due to the limited space on the probe and the harsh conditions of the moon - including extreme fluctuations in temperature and radiation bombardment.
Stunning footage of far side of moon, captured by China's Chang'e-4 probe during its landing. #ChangE4 pic.twitter.com/e1xvyjEcml
— China Xinhua News (@XHNews) January 11, 2019
The experiment could potentially be seen as the first step toward the potential development of a full-size biosphere on the moon.
"We have given consideration to future survival in space. Learning about these plants' growth in a low-gravity environment would allow us to lay the foundation for our future establishment of a space base," said Professor Liu Hanlong, who is heading the experiment.
Although the cotton pictures were the only ones released by the space agency, Professor Hanlong said that rapeseed and potato seeds were also sprouting.
"All I see is you!" China's Chang'e-4 lander and the rover Yutu-2 take photos of each other, marking success of #ChangE4 mission pic.twitter.com/5Qxb2jW7rN
— CGTN (@CGTNOfficial) January 11, 2019
The Chang'e-4 mission was the first to successfully carry out a soft landing on the dark side of the moon.
Yesterday, the CNSA announced its plans to launch its Chang'e-4 mission - which aims to return moon samples to Earth - by the end of the year.
It also confirmed a further three moon missions.
The Chang'e-6 mission will attempt to return samples from the moon's South Pole.
The Chang'e-7 mission will carry out comprehensive surveys around the moon's South Pole.
The Chang'e-8 mission will test key technologies to lay the groundwork for the construction of a science and research base on the moon.
The CNSA also confirmed plans to send a probe to Mars next year.
