China's newly-launched Tianzhou-8 cargo spacecraft delivered some 480 kilograms of equipment to the Tiangong Space Station, which are set to be used for in-space scientific experiments covering multiple fields.
China on Friday announced the successful launch of its Tianzhou-8 cargo spacecraft which is delivering supplies to its orbiting Tiangong space station.
The supplies and equipment will be used in many different scientific projects. Some were started during previous missions, such as experiments around cells and space radiation.
"The Tianzhou-6 mission successfully differentiated hematopoietic stem cells from human pluripotent stem cells, which was the first case globally. The Tianzhou-8 mission will experiment on the three-dimensional growth and in-orbit existence of human pluripotent stem cells, which is also the first time in the world according to our study and following of relevant reports and documents," said Lei Xiaohua, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
"Studying the risk of space radiation for tumor occurrence is very important for the health of our astronauts, especially for future travel to space. We hope to use such an environment in space to study the risk of lung cancer," said Zhou Guangming, a researcher at Soochow University.
Some experiments will be carried out for the first time, like the introduction of 'fruit flies' aboard the space station.
"By magnetic shielding in the experiment, we can reduce the magnetic field in the certain cultivation environment. And then, we will look at whether fruit flies can survive in the space environment with both microgravity and hypo magnetic fields, and whether they display specific or novel behaviors," said Li Yan, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Chinese scientists hope that these space experiments will translate into new solutions and applications back on Earth, all with an aim of helping mankind.
China’s Tianzhou-8 cargo craft delivers supplies for scientific experiments to space station
China’s Tianzhou-8 cargo craft delivers supplies for scientific experiments to space station
Russian President Vladimir Putin apologized for the "tragic incident" in Russian airspace during a phone talk with his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev on Saturday, referring to Wednesday's Azerbaijani plane crash, according to a statement issued by the Kremlin.
Putin said the Azerbaijani flight repeatedly tried to land at the airport in Grozny in Russia, adding that at that time, Grozny was experiencing a Ukrainian drone attack and Russian air defense systems repelled these attacks.
During the phone call, Putin expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.
Aliyev said that the plane had to be diverted to Aktau, Kazakhstan, where it made an emergency landing.
Citing testimonies from survivors, including flight attendants, as evidence of external interference, Aliyev said that the aircraft's fuselage had been punctured by foreign objects during the flight, injuring passengers and crew members.
The two leaders agreed on the need for a thorough investigation. Aliyev confirmed that an international team of experts had already begun examining the incident.
The Russian Investigative Committee had opened a criminal case under violation of traffic safety rules and operation of air transport, Putin told Aliyev, adding that primary investigations are ongoing.
Also on Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke to Aliyev, expressing condolences to him and the people of Azerbaijan regarding the tragic plane crash.
Calling a thorough investigation is a key priority now, Zelensky said photos and videos clearly show the damage to the aircraft's fuselage, which strongly point to a strike by an air defense missile.
He said Ukraine will support Azerbaijan with all necessary means and call on other countries to assist as well.
Regarding the investigation into the plane crash, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev pointed out on Saturday that efforts must be made to prevent information provocation and fake news.
Meanwhile on Saturday, Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, Kanat Bozumbayev, said the country has enlisted 17 international experts to get involved in the investigation, and the experts are concluding that the plane was damaged outside Kazakhstan's airspace.
An Embraer 190 aircraft operated by Azerbaijan Airlines, flight J2-8243 from Baku to Grozny, crashed near the Kazakh city of Aktau on Wednesday, with 62 passengers and five crew members on board. Thirty-eight people were killed in the crash, and 29 were rescued, according to Kazakhstan's Ministry of Emergency Situations.
Putin apologizes to Azerbaijani president over "tragic incident" in Russian airspace
