China launched the Tianzhou-3 cargo spaceship on Monday to supply supplies to its under-construction space station.
According to the China Manned Space Agency, the Long March-7 Y4 rocket carrying Tianzhou-3 lifted off at 3:10 p.m. (Beijing time) from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in the southern island province of Hainan (CMSA).
Tianzhou-3 separated from the rocket after 597 seconds and entered its assigned orbit. Tianzhou-3’s solar panels opened and started working correctly around 3:22 p.m. The CMSA stated that the launch was a great success. Tianzhou-3 will dock with the Tianhe space station core module and Tianzhou-2 cargo vessel later, according to the CMSA. The cargo ship is carrying roughly 6 tonnes of commodities and resources in preparation for the forthcoming launch of the crewed mission Shenzhou-13.
According to the CMSA, Tianzhou-3 is filled with astronaut living supplies, one extravehicular spacesuit for backup, supplies for extravehicular activities, space station platform materials, payloads, and propellants. On September 18, the Tianzhou-2 cargo ship disengaged from Tianhe’s rear docking port and docked with its front docking port.
The CMSA stated that the Tianhe and Tianzhou-2 combination is in good shape and ready for docking with the Tianzhou-3 cargo vessel and the Shenzhou-13 manned spaceship. The launch on Monday marks the 20th mission of China’s human space missions and the 389th mission of the Long March rocket series.
According to the ancient Chinese, supplies such as meals and pastures should be carried ahead of men and horses when performing a critical mission. Cargo spaceships will always be launched ahead of crewed flights during the space station’s construction.
“First, we’ll carry support materials, spare parts, and equipment, and then our team,” CMSA Director Hao Chun explained.
Following the Tianzhou-3 mission, the Shenzhou-13 manned spacecraft will be launched to dock with the Tianhe core module, and three astronauts will begin their six-month stay in orbit.
China intends to complete the verification of key technologies and the in-orbit construction of the space station in two years through repeated launches.
This year, five launch missions are planned: the Tianhe core module, the Tianzhou-2 cargo ship, the Shenzhou-12 crewed mission, the Tianzhou-3 cargo ship, and the upcoming Shenzhou-13 crewed mission.
Six further missions will be launched in 2022, including the Wentian and Mengtian lab modules, two cargo spacecraft, and two crewed spaceships, to finish the space station’s construction.
Source: Xinhua News Agency