In a statement made by the Chinese Manned Spaceflight Agency (CMSA), it was reported that the “Tiencou-7” cargo shuttle was launched from the Vincang Spacecraft Launch Center on Haynan Island with the “Long March 7 Y8” rocket.
It was reported that the shuttle reached its planned orbital position 10 minutes after launch and began its movement to dock with the space station.
The resupply mission aims to meet the needs of the crew of astronauts sent to the space station in October 2023.
The cargo shuttle is carrying 260 pieces of cargo weighing 5.6 tons to the space station.
China had previously carried out “Tiencou-2” and “Tiencou-3” resupply flights to the space station in 2021, “Tiencou-4” and “Tiencou-5” in 2022, and “Tiencou-6” in 2023.
– China’s space station “Tiengong”
China has built its own space station in Earth orbit in response to the US ban on cooperation in space exploration and blocking its participation in the International Space Station (ISS) program.
The Tiengong Space Station, which consists of a core module, two laboratory modules and a space telescope, is modeled on Russia’s now defunct Mir Space Station.
The core module “Tienhı” (celestial harmony) was launched on April 29, 2021, the first laboratory module “Vintien” (searching the heavens) on July 24, 2022, and the second laboratory module “Mıngtien” (dreaming the heavens) on October 31, 2022.
With the addition of laboratory modules to the core module, the “T” shaped main skeleton of the station was completed and the station entered the “application and development phase”.
The space telescope called “Shuntien” (wandering the heavens) is also planned to be added to the station as a separate module.
The station is manned by a rotating crew of three astronauts, with personnel transported by “Shincou” (sacred ship) shuttles and supplies by “Tiencou” (celestial ship) shuttles.
