China launched the Tianzhou-8 cargo craft on Friday night, delivering vital supplies to the orbiting Tiangong space station, the China Manned Space Agency announced. The mission was a resounding success, marking another milestone in the nation’s expanding space ambitions.
The Long March-7 rocket carrying Tianzhou-8 lifted off at 11:13 p.m. Beijing Time from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in Hainan province. Approximately 10 minutes later, Tianzhou-8 separated from the rocket, deployed its solar panels, and entered its designated orbit. The craft is expected to autonomously dock with the space station’s Tianhe core module within three hours of the launch.
Long March-7 Y9 carrier rocket carrying cargo spacecraft Tianzhou-8 blasts off from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in south China's Hainan Province, Nov. 15, 2024. Credit: Xinhua/Zhang Liyun
Mission Details
Tianzhou-8, China’s advanced cargo spacecraft, measures 10.6 meters in length with a maximum diameter of 3.35 meters. It comprises a cargo module and a propellant module, designed to transport supplies and fuel to the space station and dispose of waste by burning it upon reentry. The spacecraft boasts the largest cargo transport capacity among current cargo craft, with its loading capacity increased by over 100 kilograms compared to its predecessors.
This mission delivers essential supplies, including living necessities, medical materials, and equipment for spacewalks. The cargo supports the Shenzhou-19 crew currently aboard Tiangong and the upcoming Shenzhou-20 mission crew. It also carries experimental payloads, including a “lunar soil brick” developed by Chinese scientists to simulate lunar soil, intended for space exposure experiments. The brick aims to test its potential use for constructing lunar habitats and will return to Earth by 2025 for analysis.
Additionally, the spacecraft is transporting fruit flies for China’s first space experiment combining sub-magnetic and microgravity conditions. Alongside scientific materials, Tianzhou-8 includes festive packages for major Chinese holidays and personalized birthday gifts for the taikonauts.
The Long March-7 rocket, a medium-lift launch vehicle, demonstrates high reliability and eco-friendly technology. With a low Earth orbit payload capacity of 14 tonnes, it enables precise cargo delivery and docking with the space station. This mission is the first at Wenchang since Super Typhoon Yagi, with stringent pre-launch testing ensuring safety and performance.
In a significant operational enhancement, a spare Long March-7 rocket will now be kept on standby for each cargo launch, allowing for rapid deployment within three months if needed to maintain the space station’s normal operations.
Friday’s mission marks the third cargo delivery since China’s manned space program entered the space station’s application phase. It also represents the 546th launch of the Long March rocket series, further solidifying China’s position in space exploration.
The successful deployment of Tianzhou-8 not only supports ongoing operations aboard Tiangong but also advances cutting-edge research, bringing China closer to its long-term goals in lunar exploration and space science.
Add comment
Comments