"The space butterfly has successfully completed its critical life stage metamorphosis, from pupa to adult," Xie, chief designer of the "ShennongKaiwu 2" experimental payload and director of the Space Science and Technology Research Institute at Chongqing University, said.

Recent images transmitted from space confirmed the butterfly pupa hatched after being sent into space, thanks to the ideal temperature of around 30 C. The butterfly lived for several days, flying freely or occasionally resting on plant leaves within the 8.3-kilogram, 14.2-liter sealed chamber.