China’s Moon Explorer Posts Photo of Sprouting Cotton Plant

By Runhua Zhao / Jan 15, 2019 12:44 PM / Environment

China’s moon explorer Chang’e-4 sent back a photo on Tuesday – and it’s of a plant.

The picture is of a sprouting cotton plant in a part of the spacecraft sectioned off for experiments, CCTV reported.

This is Chang’e-4's first biological experiment on the surface of the moon, but the explorer has also brought potato seeds and fruit-fly eggs, so it shouldn’t be its last.

A Chang'e-5 explorer is also expected to land on the moon by late 2019.

China also plans to launch Mars missions in 2020, China's State Council Information Office said this Monday.

Related: China Makes Historic Touchdown on Moon’s Far Side