BEIJING -- China's Shenzhou XIX crew aboard the orbiting Tiangong space station received a shipment of supplies from Earth on Saturday, after the Tianzhou 8 cargo spacecraft successfully docked with the space station.

At 8:26 am, astronaut Cai Xuzhe opened the hatch of Tianzhou 8 and entered the cargo ship.

Tianzhou 8 carried approximately six tonnes of materials, including consumables for the astronauts' in-orbit residency, propellants, experiment equipment, and 458 kilograms of scientific research supplies.

The scientific supplies aboard will support 36 experiments in several fields, including the space life sciences, biotechnology, materials science, microgravity fluid physics and combustion, and the testing of new technologies for space application.

In the space life sciences and biotechnology fields, China will study the effects of sub-magnetic microgravity on the genes, behavior and reproduction of fruit flies aboard the space station for the first time. Researchers will also explore the 3D growth and development potential of human pluripotent stem cells, and the development of mammalian embryos after implantation.

"These projects aim to deepen our understanding of how microgravity, space radiation and other environmental factors affect life processes," said Liu Wei, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Technology and Engineering Center for Space Utilization.

"The findings are expected to provide theoretical insights and enable technological advancements for human health and future long-term survival in space," Liu said.

Experiments will also focus on space materials science and new technologies for space application, among other areas. These studies are expected to aid in the development of advanced spacecraft components and the application of high-performance solar battery protection materials and construction materials for lunar bases.

The Shenzhou XIX crew will proceed with cargo transfer and other related tasks as planned.

China launched Tianzhou 8 on Friday night to deliver supplies to its orbiting Tiangong space station. About three hours later, the cargo craft successfully docked with the space station.