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China’s next step in constructing the country’s space station is launch of the Wentian lab module.

As the first lab component of China’s Tiangong space station, the hardware is set for liftoff this month, perhaps on July 24^th, from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in Hainan.

The Beijing Aerospace Control Center issued an orbit control command to the now orbiting space station’s components on July 4, in preparation for Wentian to dock with Tianhe, the station’s core module.

Credit: Lee Brandon-Cremer (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Module duties

Following the docking, the trio of Shenzhou-14 astronauts will enter the Wentian lab module to activate the life support system, assemble experiment cabinets, and carry out cross-scientific research, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).

A new space science lecture will be delivered from the Wentian lab module, the first time for the taikonauts to broadcast a live lecture from a space lab module, the CMSA added.

Additionally, spacewalks will be carried out from this lab module.

The Wentian lab will mainly focus on the study of space life sciences, which can support the growth, development, genetics and aging of multiple species of plants, animals and microorganisms under space conditions.

Shenzhou-14 crew. Credit: China Manned Space Engineering Office

Next module up

Meanwhile, the next station segment, the Mengtian lab module, is slated for launch in October.

The Mengtian lab will be oriented to microgravity research and is equipped with experimental cabinets for fluid physics, materials science, combustion science, basic physics and space technology.

On June 5, China launched the Shenzhou-14 crew — Cai Xuzhe, Chen Dong and Liu Yang – to carry out a six-month mission to help complete the construction of the country’s space station.