China’s Tianzhou-8 cargo ship and Shenzhou-19 crewed spaceship will embark on their six-month mission, marking a significant milestone in the country’s space exploration endeavors. During their time in orbit, the crew will initiate China’s first aquatic ecology project, aiming to establish a self-circulating ecosystem using zebrafish and hornwort. This groundbreaking initiative seeks to pave the way for advancements in space-based cultivation of vertebrates.