According to the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), the Long March-7 Y7 carrier rocket has effectively placed the Tianzhou-6 cargo spacecraft into orbit. The launch was conducted at the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site located in Hainan, China’s southern island province, on May 10 at 9:21 p.m. local time (13:22 GMT).<\/p>\n
In a statement, the CASC confirmed that the spacecraft was successfully placed in the intended orbit by the carrier rocket. The Tianzhou-6 spacecraft is expected to dock with the Tiangong space station later on, carrying fuel, spare parts, spacesuits, and cargo to support the work and living conditions of taikonauts who will arrive on the Shenzhou 16 manned spacecraft. The launch of Shenzhou 16 is slated for later this month.<\/p>\n
China has been actively developing its space program since 2022, and the main construction of its orbital station, Tiangong, has been completed. The T-shaped station comprises the Tianhe core module and two laboratory modules, Wentian and Mengtian, which are docked to it. The station can accommodate up to six people simultaneously during crew rotation changes, and its operational lifespan is set at 15 years, concluding in 2038. In December, Chinese taikonauts accomplished the country’s first successful in-orbit crew rotation at the Tiangong space station.<\/p>\n