From NewScientist.com:
China intends to launch a satellite aimed at developing space-enhanced super-fruits, vegetables and other crops, as it seeks ways to expand the nation’s food production, state press said on Monday.
The Shijian-8, a recoverable satellite, will be launched aboard a Long March 2C rocket in early September 2006. It will stay in space for two weeks in a mission that will expose 2000 seeds to cosmic radiation and microgravity, the China Daily newspaper reported.
“Exposed to special environments such as cosmic radiation and microgravity, some seeds will mutate to such an extent that they may produce much higher yields and improved quality,” the paper said…However, independent researchers previously contacted by New Scientist have expressed scepticism regarding these claims (see Space seed idea falls on stony ground). [Full Text]
The original Chinese report from the China National Space Administration is available here.
Technorati Tags: China
