China to Launch Core Module of Future Space Station into Orbit Our Bureau 374 China’s Tianhe (“Heavenly Harmony”) core module of the Chinese Space Station (CSS) is set to be hurtled into space aboard a Long March 5B rocket at the end of April, most likely on Thursday night. The launch will take place from Wenchang Launch Center on the southern island of Hainan. Humans have lived on a total of 11 such facilities in Earth orbit since the Soviet Union launched the first space station some 50 years ago. The launch of the core module would be the first of 11 missions to build and supply the space station for a three-person crew. These launches will send up two more modules: four cargo supply shipments and four missions with crews.