China’s space station seems to be finally getting into place. The space agency recently launched the core of the space lab, which is now orbiting Earth. The module, called Tianhe was placed in orbit aboard a Long March-5B Y2 carrier rocket.
Tianhe is the first module of the space station and is touted as the biggest spacecraft the country has produced. It measures 16.6 meters in length, 4.2 m across at its widest point, and weighs 22.5 tons. The launch will be followed by a series of cargo and crew missions that will help complete the building process by the end of 2022.
Four crewed missions planned
The space station will require 10 more launches to complete the construction. The launches will include four crewed missions, two module launches, and four cargo missions, reports CGTN. After completion, the space station will form a T-shape with Tianhe at the center and two other modules, told Zhou Jianping, chief designer of China’s crewed space program.
“Next, we will launch Tianzhou 2 cargo spacecraft in May and the Shenzhou 12 spacecraft in June. Three astronauts will stay in orbit for three months on the Shenzhou 12 manned spacecraft,” said Hao Chun, director of the China Manned Space Engineering Office.
Designed to last for a decade
Tianhe will be launched this year in September and the Shenzhou 13 crewed spaceship will follow in October. It will ferry three astronauts, who will continue their research aboard Tianhe for six months.
“The two manned spacecraft, also composed of three astronauts respectively, will stay in orbit for about six months,” Hao added. “This is the general arrangement of our missions.”
China’s space station is built to last for at least 10 years, although it is believed to last for 15 years with maintenance and repairs, reports CCTV.
China has also announced that it will launch two probes with an aim to go beyond the solar system. China will also become the second country after the United States to ever launch an interstellar space mission. Crossing the solar system will allow the Chinese space agency to study space better, helping them unravel the mysteries of the galaxy.
