China launches space station module with giant rocket

On July 24, the Chinese Long March-5B launch vehicle delivered the Wentian experimental module to the Tiangong space station as part of the station's orbital constellation.

The launch is broadcast by China Central Television (CCTV), Interfax reports.

The Long March-5B was launched from the Wenchang Cosmodrome, located on Hainan Island in southern China, at 14:22 GMT+8 (10:22 Baku time).

The Wentian module is planned to automatically stop at the front port of the core station module. Later, a robot manipulator installed there will transfer the Wentian to the side port.

The "Wentian" experimental module consists of two compartments - working and service, as well as an airlock chamber, from which Chinese astronauts are planned to enter outer space.

The module has three berths for crew members, a toilet and a kitchen. China will be able to rotate crews in orbit for the first time in late 2022 thanks to the additional living space. There will be six astronauts on the station at the same time for a week.

According to the China Manned Space Program, the module for conducting scientific experiments is equipped with racks, and outside there are solar panels for powering the spacecraft with electricity and adapters for payloads.

A five meters long robot manipulator is planned to be put into operation in the future, which will complement the work of the main ten-meter robot manipulator installed on the core module.

Another experimental module, Mentian, will arrive at the station in late 2022. After its integration, the construction phase will be completed and the full operation of the orbital laboratory will begin.

The "Tianhe" core module being created by the Chinese "Tiangong" space station was launched into orbit on April 29, 2021.

The total weight of the station, which will be located at an altitude of 400 kilometres, after its completion in 2022, will be about 90 tons. The service life is about 10 years.

Xuntian autonomous module having a telescope with a mirror diameter of two metres is also planned to be launched into orbit as an integral part of the station in 2024.

It will maneuver in orbit with its propulsion system and occasionally stop at the station for refueling and maintenance.