GETTY Two-celled mouse embryos fully developed in space

A research team from China concluded that mammalian embryos are able to grow in space after it was feared that it would not be possible. In early April, China launched a microgravity satellite named SJ-10 into the atmosphere which carried 6,000 mouse embryos inside a compartment about the size of a microwave oven.

GETTY Mouse embryos were sent into space

The container was fitted with devices to feed the embryos nutrients in order to thrive and a microscopic camera to capture images of them developing. Now the team claim to have received the images and some of the two-cell embryos have completely developed into blastocysts – which is the stage in its life where it implants into the wall of the uterus.

GETTY The embryos were on board a satellite

This is the first time that mammalian embryos have developed in space and could lead to humans colonising other planets. Experiment leader Professor Duan Enkui told China Daily: “The human race may still have a long way to go before we can colonise space.