In a remarkable display of space engineering, China's Tianzhou-8 cargo spacecraft successfully docked with the orbiting space station at 2:32 a.m. Beijing Time on Saturday, as confirmed by the China Manned Space Agency.
The spacecraft made a precise arrival at the rear docking port of the Tianhe core module, marking a significant milestone in the ongoing development phase of China's space station.
The Shenzhou-19 crew is set to board the Tianzhou-8 spacecraft to facilitate the transfer of approximately six tonnes of essential supplies. These include consumables, propellants, experimental equipment, materials, and special gift packages tailored for upcoming Chinese festivals such as the Spring Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival, and Dragon Boat Festival.
Launched on Friday night from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in Hainan Province, the Tianzhou-8 was propelled into space atop a Long March-7 Y9 carrier rocket. Within ten minutes, the spacecraft successfully separated from the rocket and entered its designated orbit. The seamless deployment of its solar panels further underscored the success of the mission.
This mission represents the third cargo supply endeavor in the application and development phase of China's space station, demonstrating the country's growing prowess in space exploration and sustainable space habitation.
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China's Tianzhou-8 cargo spacecraft docks with space station
cgtn.com
