Chinese astronauts harvest first fully space-grown rice on Tiankong station
Astronauts aboard China's Tiankong space station have harvested rice that was cultivated entirely in microgravity, completing the first full growth cycle in orbit.
On China's Tiankong space station, astronauts have completed the first full harvest of rice cultivated in a microgravity environment. Initiated in January 2026 by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the experiment seeks to establish a self-sustaining cycle where rice seeds are sown, mature, and generate new seeds entirely in orbit, enabling successive generations without Earth input. The first generation grew from Earth-origin seeds, while the second generation used seeds harvested in space to assess genetic stability under weightless conditions.
Researchers are also testing a root-free harvesting method that could permit repeated yields from the same plant, improving efficiency for future habitats. Earlier 2022 trials produced space-grown rice whose seeds were later studied on Earth, yielding three additional generations. Current analyses will compare space-grown grains with Earth-grown controls to detect any genetic or phenotypic differences, informing food production for long-duration lunar or Martian missions.
Why it matters
Space-grown rice could provide a sustainable food source for future long-duration missions beyond Earth.
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