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Mouse From China’s Shenzhou-21 Gives Birth After Orbit

The Chinese Academy of Sciences will track the litter for multigenerational effects to guide planning for long-duration human missions.

Overview

  • A returned female from the Tiangong mission delivered nine pups on December 10, with six surviving, which researchers call a normal outcome.
  • CAS confirmed the birth and said the mother is nursing normally, with the pups showing strong vitality.
  • Four mice were launched on October 31 aboard Shenzhou-21 and landed in Inner Mongolia on November 14 after two weeks in microgravity and orbital radiation.
  • A return-schedule change prompted emergency measures, including pumping water into the habitat and adopting soy milk as rations after Earth-based safety tests.
  • An AI system monitored behavior and consumption in real time, and researchers will assess the offspring’s growth, physiology, and eventual fertility.