The rocket that would send three crew members to start living on China’s new orbiting space station was on Wednesday moved onto the launch pad ahead of its planned blastoff next week.
The astronauts plan to spend three months on the space station doing spacewalks, construction, maintenance and science experiments.
The main section of the Tianhe station was launched into orbit on April 29, and a cargo spacecraft sent up last month carried fuel, food and equipment to the station in preparation for the crewed mission.
The Long March-2F Y12 rocket carrying the Shenzhou 12 spaceship was transferred to the launch pad at
In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, the Shenzhou-12 manned spaceship with its Long March-2F carrier rocket is being transferred to the launching area of Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China’s Gansu province on June 9, 2021. (Xinhua via AP)
BEIJING The rocket that will send three crew members to start living on China’s new orbiting space station has been moved onto the launch pad ahead of its planned blastoff next week.
The astronauts plan to spend three months on the space station doing spacewalks, construction and maintenance work and science experiments.
The main section of the Tianhe, or Heavenly Harmony, station was launched into orbit on April 29, and a cargo spacecraft sent up last month carried fuel, food and equipment to the station in preparation for the crewed mission.
China s First Space Station Crew Launch Next Week to Live on Module That Could Outlast ISS
On 6/10/21 at 10:54 AM EDT
China will send its first crew to live on its new orbiting space station next week.
Three astronauts will spend three months conducting spacewalks, science experiments and performing maintenance on the Tianhe, or Heavenly Harmony, space station that launched into orbit on April 29, the Associated Press reported.
The Chinese space agency plans for 11 launches through the end of next year to expand the station.
Once Tianhe is complete, it will allow for stays up to six months. The station is reportedly intended to be used for 15 years and may outlast the International Space Station, which is approaching the end of its functional lifespan. China does not participate in the ISS due to U.S. fears over the Chinese military and surveillance programs.