18 scientific projects shortlisted for space station experiments

Eighteen project proposals from scientists around the world for space experiments onboard China's future space station - which is expected to begin operations in 2022 - have been shortlisted for further evaluation, and the final selections will be announced in June, China Manned Space Agency said on Thursday.

The agency and the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs issued an announcement in May about the cooperation opportunities for scientists around the world.

By October, 42 applications from 27 countries had been submitted, with their proposed experiments covering nine areas, including space medicine, space life science and fundamental physics.