Nanyang aeronautic researcher returns after 'Mars trip'

After spending 180 days sealed in a "space capsule" in Shenzhen, Guangdong province for an experiment simulating a long journey to Mars, four volunteers finally "returned" to Earth on Dec 13.

The experiment was conducted to determine how well food, water, and oxygen could be used and recycled under controlled conditions.

Tong Feizhou (right), along with other volunteers salute the crowd when exiting the capsule. [Photo/Nanyang Daily]

Emerging from the 370-square-meter, eight-cabin module at the Space Institute of Southern China, the four volunteers were welcomed by officials and scientists working for China's space exploration program.

Tong Feizhou from Nanyang, Henan province was the only female volunteer and especially welcomed with cheers from the crowd.

Tong Feizhou in her uniform. [Photo/Nanyang Daily]

A graduate from Beijing Sports University, Tong now works as a researcher at the Astronaut Center of China. She first received public attention when assisting Liu Yang, China's first female astronaut, during her mission on Shenzhou-9's manned spaceship docking mission with Tiangong-1 in 2012.

As the team doctor, Tong, along with the other three male volunteers, successfully cultivated 25 different kinds of plants inside the capsule, including wheat, potatoes, sweet potatoes, soybeans, peanuts, lettuce, edible amaranth and Chinese cabbage.

"I am mainly responsible for the last round of data collection from our experiments, as well as our medical monitoring and support. It's a huge amount of work", Tong said.

More than a dozen Chinese and overseas institutions are involved in the experiment, including the Astronaut Center of China, Harvard University and the German Aerospace Center.

As one might expect, the results of the experiment are considered critical to determining the viability of long-term space travel.

Tong Feizhou's mother greets Tong with pride. [Photo/Nanyang Daily]