Chinese scientists have come to know about a new bacteria in space. Scientists have discovered this new species of bacteria at Tiangong Space Station. A paper has been published in the International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology. According to which the new bacterial strain has been named Niallia tiangongensis. This strain was found in microorganism samples collected from the surfaces of Tiangong during Shanejhou 15 mission, which returned to Earth in June 2023.

The new bacteria have been described as aerobic, spores -maker and rod -shaped bacteria. This is the first time a new species has been discovered at Tiangong, a three -module space station in the Lower Earth Orbit. The paper states that the new strain is similar to niallia circulaans that are found on earth. But there have been many mutations in it which can prove to be beneficial in the study of life in space. According to the Science Alert, the paper states that understanding the characteristics of microorganisms during long -term space missions is necessary to protect the health of astronauts and maintain the functionality of spacecraft.

Scientists say that new bacteria have a unique ability. It can break the gelatine and it can be very beneficial in an environment where nutrients are available in very limited amounts. The new strain has also shown structural and functional differences between two major proteins, which can increase the repair of biofilm construction, oxidative stress response and radiation damage. These adaptations show that this microbe has developed a system to survive in the extreme conditions of the space environment.

However, it is yet to be strongly detected whether the new bacteria pose a threat to the health of Tiangong’s astronauts. To understand which bacteria survive at space stations, it is necessary to understand how to control contamination on the board and how to avoid. This is not the first time a new species has been discovered in space. Many new bacteria have been identified even before the International Space Station.

China will send a Pakistan astronaut as a guest at its space station. China has announced to send an astronaut from Pakistan as the first foreign guest at Tiangong Space Station. According to China’s Human Space Flight Program, China and Pakistan have signed an agreement on Friday, according to the Chena Manned Space Agency (CMSA). The agreement states that China will choose Pakistani astronauts for space missions and also training.

Pakistan is considered close to China and both countries are strengthening their partnership in the space sector. China’s official newspaper China Daily Report According to the agreement to send Pakistani astronaut to space, China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) and Pakistan’s agency Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco) signed during a ceremony in Islamabad. Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif also attended the ceremony.

China has also been launching a satellite for it for the last few years to help its close ally Pakistan. This is part of China’s cooperation in the space sector. China’s space station Tiangong is currently traveling 400 km above the Earth. It has been circling the Earth’s orbit for the last four years. It is considered a rival to Russia’s space station MIR.

Why did China make its separate space station?
China needed to build its own separate space station because China was excluded from the International Space Station (ISS). So China created Tiangong. China was shown the way out because Western countries were concerned that China’s Space Program operates the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). This Space Station of China has now become a new competition between China and the US.