Exhibition tells story of taikonauts' journey

A model of the return module for Shenzhou VII spacecraft is seen in this picture taken on December 2, 2008. The module and other exhibits are on display through Tuesday at the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum. [Xinhua]

Exhibition visitors will also have a chance to view food and dietary supplements that taikonauts eat, including packaged mooncakes and stewed pork ribs.

Zhou pointed out that the items on display reflect the achievements of Chinese space technology, many of which have been adopted for life here on Earth. So far, 150 "space foods" have been developed commercially, and some are now on the shelves of supermarkets in Beijing.

Zhang Xianggen, an expert from the Shanghai Society of Astronautics, said agriculture is also benefiting from space technology, as the country tries to improve its ability to feed its huge population with decreasing farmland.

The technique involves sending seeds into space for exposure to an environment packed with radiation but lacking in gravity and atmospheric pressure. The extreme conditions can result in mutations to the seeds, some of which may be beneficial.

"The Shenzhou-series spacecraft have taken various seeds for grain, vegetables, fruit and cotton into space," Zhang said. "Many seeds have developed into better varieties, with higher yield, better quality and higher tolerance to drought and frost."

The exhibition will run through next Tuesday. Free tickets are available at Oriental newspaper kiosks.