[News from CNSA] On December 16, the handover ceremony of articles on the 18th retrievable satellite was held in Beijing. Seeds of cotton, licorice root, some vegetables, followers and trees were handed over to corresponding organizations. 116 kinds of articles, handed over by Beijing Aeronautics and Satellite Application Corporation this time, were carried on the 18th retrievable scientific experiment satellite of China for 15 organizations.
Wang Yusheng, assistant general manager of China Space Science Technology Group Corporation, introduced that the experiment proved that the seeds returned from space of high vacuum, strong radiation and micro gravity could produce good results of high production, good growth and high antitoxicity.
The 18th retrievable satellite was launched in Jiuquan Satellite Launching Center in China on November 3, 2003 by Long March 2D rocket, and the retrievable module was successfully collected in the middle area in Sichuan Province on November 21 after moving in orbit for 18 days.
China will launch for retrievable satellites in the next two years to start overall space experiment of seed cultivation. (Li Qian)