China sends 3 astronauts to Tiangong space station
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This will become the second crew to spend 6 months on the Tiangong after touching earthly grounds in April.
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The crewed spaceship Shenzhou-14, atop a Long March-2F carrier rocket, is launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi desert, on June 5.
On Sunday, China launched a rocket with 3 astronauts on board a mission to accomplish the construction of a new space station in its latest bid at technological advancement in space.
The vessel carrying the astronauts was launched into space from a Long March-2F rocket from the Jiuquan launch center in China's Gobi desert, according to state broadcaster CCTV. The team is set to spend 6 months expanding the Tiangong space station.
Tiangong space station is expected to become fully operational by the end of 2022. China has landed a rover on Mars and sent probes to the moon.
CGTN, on Saturday, said that the Shenzhou-14 crew is tasked with "completing in-orbit assembly and construction of the space station," as well as "commissioning of equipment" and conducting scientific experiments.
Chen Dong, 43, who is leading the excursion, will be connecting the station's 2 lab modules in the main body, along with his colleagues, Liu Yang, and Cai Xuzhe. This will become the second crew to spend 6 months on the Tiangong after touching earthly grounds in April. The last trip lasted 183 days.
Tiangong is expected to operate for at least a decade - the completed station resembles the Soviet Mir station that was in orbit between the 1980s and 2001.
China plans 6 space missions to complete national orbital station
China has scheduled six space missions by the end of 2022 to complete the construction of the national space station Tiangong, the director of China’s Manned Space Engineering Office, Hao Chun, confirmed in mid-April.
"According to the plan, we will have six missions in 2022 to complete the national orbital space station," Hao was quoted as saying by the state-owned broadcaster China Central Television.
The launches of rockets carrying modules and other equipment for the space station are scheduled for May, June, July, and October of this year, the official noted.
China began the construction of its first long-term modular orbital station on April 29, 2021, when the Tianhe core module was successfully launched into orbit.
The station will consist of two additional laboratory modules, Wentian and Mengtian, which are expected to be launched this year.
The station will accommodate three crew members for regular missions and six when new crews arrive.
