Stellar Prospects
Space launch center sees China’s exploration of the universe take off
Wenchang Space Launch Center i n Hainan Province attracted the world’s attention on October 31. At 3:37 p.m., at the order of young commander Liao Guorui,
Mengtian, the second lab module of China’s
Tiangong space station, lifted off into space.
The launch put in place the final piece of the jigsaw puzzle for China’s interstellar home.
Mengtian, which literally translates as “dreaming of the Heavens,” docked with the space station’s core module on November 1. On November 3, it completed its in-orbit transposition, which marked the formation of Tiangong’s basic T-shape arrangement, a key step toward the space station’s completion.
Since last year, China has been assembling its very own space home. Now, Tiangong’s transformation into a national space station with three modules—the Tianhe core module plus the Wentian and Mengtian lab modules, demonstrates a breakthrough in China’s three-decade undertaking to advance its space program.
A dream come true
Wenchang Space Launch Center has witnessed some monumental moments in China’s space program, starting from its inaugural launch mission on June 25, 2016, with the successful blastoff of a Long March-7 rocket.
With two brand new launch complexes and supporting facilities, the site supports the country’s space ambitions, including its permanent space station and missions to the Moon and Mars.
“The launch site features five systems: testing and launching, measurement and control, communication, meteorology and service support,” Lu Daokai, an official at the test station of the Wenchang Space Launch Site, told Beijing Review. “Wenchang is the newest spaceport [a site for launching or receiving spacecraft], and many historical moments are being recorded here.”
Wenchang is the place where a number of spacecraft have already embarked on their space journey. On July 23, 2020, Tianwen-1, China’s Mars probe, launched from Wenchang via a Long March-5 rocket. On November 24 of that same year, at the same site, a Long March-5 rocket carrying the Chang’e-5 spacecraft, lifted off to collect and return samples from the Moon.
On May 15, 2021, Tianwen-1 touched down at its pre-selected landing area in Utopia Planitia, the largest recognized impact basin on Mars, marking China’s first time landing a probe on the planet.
On December 17, 2020, the Chang’e-5 probe’s return capsule brought back the country’s first samples collected from the Moon—the world’s first fresh samples of lunar debris in over 40 years.
And the storyline continues. With the launch of the Tianhe core module in April 2021 at Wenchang, China officially kicked off the in-orbit construction of its space station. More than one year later, the site witnessed the launch of the space nd station’s first lab module: Wentian.
What’s more, since its first launch six years ago, Wenchang has successfully completed the first flights of five new rocket types, better meeting tonnage requirements.
This increased carrying capacity is a manifestation of the country’s aerospace strength. The two new-generation carrier rockets—Long March-5 and Long March-7, with larger carrying capacity, higher reliability and greener features, will play an important role in future space launches.
The development and use of this new generation of launch vehicles demanded a geographic location with upgraded large-diameter nd rocket transportation capability and rocket debris landing areas. “The Wenchang Space Launch Site was specifically created to fit that bill,” Lu said.
The site, located in a coastal area of China, bears unique advantages. Ships are more suitable for the transportation of large-size rockets than rail, road and air. At the same time, Wenchang is China’s first launch site to fully use liquid hydrogen, liquid oxygen and other new non-toxic, non-polluting propellants.
“And of course, behind the successful completion of any mission are tens of thousands of aerospace personnel,” Lu said. The youngest spaceport has a young team. From 20-something to 40-something, they all have their own stories to tell, Lu added.
Liao, who is in his 30s, is one of them. Working at the site since 2010, the “No.1 commander” has participated in and witnessed the progress of the Wenchang Launch Site from scratch. “Because when you know what your goal is early on, you just have to go for it,” he commented.
A common vision
Looking up, I see the immensity of the cosmos; bowing my head, I look at the multitude of the world.
The gaze flies, the heart expands, the joy of the senses can reach its peak, and indeed, this is true happiness.
These lines derive from The Orchid Pavilion Preface, a masterpiece written by Eastern Jin Dynasty (317-420) calligrapher Wang Xizhi, who is traditionally referred to as the Sage of Calligraphy.
The interesting thing is, Samantha Cristoforetti, the first Italian female astronaut in space, recently posted several lines of this famous ancient Chinese composition on Twitter to share her sheer joy about several space shots of
China’s Bohai Bay and the day-to-night landscape of Beijing.
“A European astronaut i n space reciting Chinese ancient poetry; how romantic,” one comment read.
After its completion, astronauts and scientists from other countries will be able to work inside China’s space station.
China’s space program intends to facilitate a global consensus on people’s shared responsibilities in utilizing outer space for peaceful purposes and safeguarding its security for the benefit of all humanity. The country intends to make Tiangong a platform for extensive international participation.
Scientists will be able to conduct experiments in the two lab modules. Wentian, launched in July, will be mainly used for life science and biological research. The newly launched Mengtian is like a physics laboratory in space, with eight cabinets that can support experiments on fluids, materials, combustion and basic physics. Three experiments inside the lab module are collaborations with the European Space Agency, Liu Qiusheng, one of the cabinets’ designers from the Institute of Mechanics under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said.
China has signed agreements and carried out cooperation projects with France, Germany, Italy, Russia, Pakistan and many more space agencies or organizations, including the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs. Tiangong is the first of its kind open to all UN member states.
“I’m so proud of China for opening its space station to the world,” Guan Xiao, a 28-year-old space aficionado who came to a beach near the Wenchang Space Launch Site to watch Mengtian take off, said. “It helps international science and tech exchanges and can benefit the whole of mankind,” she told Beijing Review.
“Generations of space pioneers have brought us to where we are today. Standing here, on the beach, it’s amazing to think the Earth is nothing but a speck of sand in a land of stars. It takes courage and determination to find our own place in the infinity that is space; and this is where we start,” Guan concluded.
It’s all about aiming for the stars.