In the midst of this year’s Spring Festival celebrations in China, exceptional good news has come from space. Astronauts of the Shenzhou-21 mission have successfully grown tomatoes on the Tiankong space station. The event is seen as an important breakthrough for future long-duration space missions.
In a video released by China Media Group, astronaut Chang Hongchang referred to an area inside the space station as the ‘healing corner’, where tomato plants are growing luxuriantly. This ‘Space Vegetable Garden’ proves sustainable plant life is possible beyond Earth.
These plants are grown in special aeroponic cultivation systems. It was developed by researchers at the China Astronaut Research and Training Center. For efficient use of water, it converts water into fine particles and delivers it to plant roots; Also specially designed LED light spectrum accelerates plant growth.
The instrument was sent to the station on the Tianzhou-9 cargo spacecraft in July 2025.
Astronaut Wu Fei said the sight and light aroma of ripe tomatoes is also a source of special joy for them. Every day they take care of the trees and collect data.
This research is not only for fruit or vegetable production, but also for regenerating the atmosphere through plants in space or increasing production efficiency and improving astronaut care methods. There are also plans for experimental cultivation of wheat, carrot and medicinal plants here in the future.
Astronaut Chang Lu said that the presence of green in the vast void of space gives them mental strength and boosts their confidence to complete the next scientific work.
It should be noted that after the launch on October 31, 2025, the Shenzhou-21 mission’s space flight has already crossed more than 100 days. All its scientific tests and maintenance activities are running normally, according to the China Manned Space Agency.
References: CCTV
