The Chinese Chang'e-4 landed on the moon in the early days of 2019. On board the flying device were seeds of various plants and eggs of some insects - Chinese researchers intend to create a special biosphere in an airtight three-kilogram container on the surface of the Earth’s satellite.

So, seeds of cotton, rapeseed, potatoes, cabbage, as well as yeast mushrooms and eggs of Drosophila fly went to the moon in the soil.

About thirty leading Chinese scientists and their works worked on the creation of an airtight container. Finally, the experiments were successful: the first cotton seedlings sprouted on the surface of the moon in the same container. According to the researchers, this is so far the first and only case of sunrise of plants on the moon. That very small step, which, in principle, is insignificant for cotton, but so important for all mankind in space exploration.

It should be added that Chang'e-4 flew to the moon for 20 days. All this time, the seeds did not germinate. Growth was outlined only after the probe landed on the surface of the satellite.

“Now we can safely think of an expedition to Mars, where within the framework of long-term research, observations will be made of the growth of the same plants,” Chinese scientists say.