China launches cargo spacecraft into space
The China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) announced that the "Tianzhou-7" cargo spacecraft was launched aboard a "Long March 7 Y8" rocket from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site on Hainan Island.
AA
It was stated that 10 minutes after the launch, the spacecraft reached its planned orbit and began its journey to dock with the space station.
The resupply mission aims to meet the needs of the taikonaut crew sent to the space station in October 2023.
The cargo spacecraft is carrying 5.6 tons of supplies consisting of 260 items to the space station.
China previously carried out "Tianzhou-2" and "Tianzhou-3" resupply missions in 2021, "Tianzhou-4" and "Tianzhou-5" in 2022, and "Tianzhou-6" in 2023.
ESTABLISHED ITS OWN SPACE STATION
China established its own space station in Earth's orbit after the US banned cooperation in space research and prevented its participation in the International Space Station (ISS) program.
The Tiangong Space Station, which consists of a core module and two laboratory modules and is planned to have a space telescope added to it, was built based on the model of Russia's now-defunct Mir Space Station.
The station's main component, the "Tianhe" (heavenly harmony) core module, was launched on April 29, 2021, the first laboratory module "Wentian" (quest for the heavens) on July 24, 2022, and the second laboratory module "Mengtian" (dreaming of the heavens) on October 31, 2022.
With the addition of the laboratory modules to the core module, the station's T-shaped main structure was completed, and the station entered its "application and development phase."
A space telescope called "Xuntian" (surveying the heavens) is also planned to be added to the station as a separate module.
Personnel are transported to the station, where a three-person taikonaut crew serves on a rotating basis, via "Shenzhou" (divine vessel) spacecraft, while supplies are transported via "Tianzhou" (heavenly vessel) spacecraft.