Chinese cargo spacecraft docks with orbital station eight hours after blastoff
May 30, 2021, 08:19 IST
An automated spacecraft docked with China's new space station carrying fuel and supplies for its future crew, the Chinese space agency announced. Tianzhou-2 spacecraft reached the Tianhe station eight hours after blasting off from Hainan, an island in the South China Sea, China Manned Space said. It carried space suits, living supplies and equipment and fuel for the station.
Tianhe, or Heavenly Harmony, is third and largest orbital station launched by China's increasingly ambition space program.
Video courtesy: Space.com
The station's core module was launched April 29. The space agency plans a total of 11 launches through the end of next year to deliver two more modules for the 70-ton station, supplies and a three-member crew.
China was criticized for allowing part of the rocket that launched the Tianhe to fall back to Earth uncontrolled. There was no indication about what would happen to the rocket from Saturday's launch.
Beijing doesn't participate in the International Space Station, largely due to US objections. Washington is wary of the Chinese program's secrecy and its military connections.
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Tianhe, or Heavenly Harmony, is third and largest orbital station launched by China's increasingly ambition space program.
The station's core module was launched April 29. The space agency plans a total of 11 launches through the end of next year to deliver two more modules for the 70-ton station, supplies and a three-member crew.
China was criticized for allowing part of the rocket that launched the Tianhe to fall back to Earth uncontrolled. There was no indication about what would happen to the rocket from Saturday's launch.
Beijing doesn't participate in the International Space Station, largely due to US objections. Washington is wary of the Chinese program's secrecy and its military connections.
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SEE ALSO:
The remaining IPL matches will be held in UAE in September and October — advertisers and sponsors can ride the cricket wave to corner Diwali demand
Zerodha doubles its valuation to $2 billion within a year as millennials plough India’s stock markets
India’s crypto exchanges are reportedly mulling the legal route again — may approach the Supreme Court over RBI’s directive