The experiments on China’s space station Tianzhou-1 will study the basic development and maturation of germ cells in a micro-gravity environment, and the developmental potential of human embryonic stem cells, thus taking a first step in investigations concerning human reproduction in space. Scientists on the ground will remotely control the research equipment to change the cell-culture medium to induce the human embryonic stem cells to differentiate into germ cells. Images of the cells under the microscope will be transmitted to earth.

CAS news release, April 24, 2017