Chongqing — On Feb. 2, Chongqing University announced that its researchers had successfully hatched a butterfly in space, a milestone in space life science that offers new insight into how complex life from Earth may survive beyond our planet.
The butterfly emerged from a pupa carried into orbit as part of a closed ecological experiment conducted by the university's research team. Scientists said the insect adapted well to the microgravity environment, marking the first time such a metamorphosis has been recorded in a Chinese space biology experiment.
A butterfly of the same species as the one hatched in space is displayed at Chongqing University. (Photo/Visual Chongqing)
The butterfly was part of a compact, self-contained space ecosystem designed to test whether living organisms can sustain themselves and complete key biological processes in orbit. The experiment launched at 9:08 a.m. on Dec. 13, 2025, aboard a space experiment platform and was carried into low-Earth orbit by a rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.
Since reaching orbit, the sealed experimental chamber has been operating autonomously. According to the research team, data transmitted back to Earth indicate that essential environmental conditions inside the capsule—including air pressure, temperature, and humidity—have remained stable.
Images sent from space provided the most striking confirmation of the experiment's success. They showed a pupa of the Asian swallowtail butterfly emerging under microgravity conditions. After breaking free from its chrysalis, the butterfly was observed moving actively inside the capsule, alternately resting on plant leaves and flying within the confined space.
The payload was designed to replicate a complete ecological cycle on a miniature scale. Plants inside the sealed chamber function as producers, generating oxygen and food. The butterfly acts as a consumer, while microorganisms serve as decomposers, breaking down biological waste and helping maintain a stable internal environment.
Professor Xie Gengxin, the project's chief commander and designer, said the experiment intentionally avoided many protective measures typically used in space biology research. The system included no additional radiation shielding and no active temperature control, and relied on full-spectrum lighting to approximate natural conditions.
The goal was to expose the ecosystem to the extreme conditions of space and determine whether life could survive and sustain material circulation without human intervention. "It was a bold experiment," Xie said, adding that the design was meant to test the limits of biological resilience.
Researchers said the butterfly's successful emergence demonstrates that complex animals can complete critical stages of their life cycles within a sealed space environment — a key requirement for long-term biological life-support systems.
The findings advance research into the interactions among animals, plants, and microorganisms in orbit and provide valuable data for developing large-scale, biologically regenerative life-support systems. Such systems are considered essential for future lunar bases, long-duration space missions, and eventual crewed exploration of Mars.