China cargo craft docks with space station module

A CHINESE cargo spacecraft carrying equipment and supplies successfully docked with the core module of the country’s future space station on May 30, state media said.

A Long March 7 rocket carrying the Tianzhou-2 cargo craft – loaded with essentials such as food, equipment and fuel – blasted off late on May 29 from the Wenchang launch site on the tropical southern island of Hainan, Xinhua News Agency reported.

The docking with the space station’s Tianhe core module was completed at 5:01am Beijing time (2101 GMT on May 29), the agency said, citing the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).

China will need to carry out around 10 missions in total to complete assembly of the space station – named Tiangong, meaning “heavenly palace” – in orbit.

The station is expected to become fully operational in 2022. Once completed, it is expected to remain in low Earth orbit for up to 15 years.

With the possible retirement of the International Space Station after 2028, Tiangong could become the only human outpost in Earth’s orbit.

Now that the cargo craft has docked, China plans to begin preparations to send three astronauts up to unpack the goods, which include meals such as shredded pork with garlic sauce and Kung Pao chicken, the agency said.

“We will transport support materials, necessary spare parts and equipment first, and then our crew,” Xinhua quoted CMSA director Hao Chun as saying.

Beijing has pumped billions into its space programme in a bid to make up ground on pioneers Russia and the US, with ambitious projects in Earth orbit and the landing of uncrewed craft on the Moon and Mars.

Although Chinese authorities have said they are open to foreign collaboration on their space station, the scope of that cooperation is as yet unclear.

But the European Space Agency has already sent astronauts to China to train for work inside Tiangong when it is ready.

The launch of the Tianzhou-2 was to have taken place just days after the Mars rover landing, but was postponed for technical reasons.

AFP A Long March 7 rocket carrying China’s Tianzhou-2 cargo craft lifts off from the Wenchang Space Launch Center in southern China’s Hainan province.