By 
October 25th, 2022
Credit: CNSA/CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab
China’s Mengtian Laboratory Module is on the launch pad, being readied for a reported liftoff of October 31st.
The Long March-5B Y4 launch vehicle topped by the new space lab has been transported on October 25th to the launch pad at the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site Hainan Province, China.
Both rocket and payload now enter a preparation phrase for its near-future launch.
The Mengtian Laboratory Module (“Dreaming of Heavens”) is the second module to be put in place that will expand the country’s space station.
Next up! China’s Mengtian lab for the country’s space station.
Credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab
Operation window
“We have hammered out details and carried out relevant tests regarding its moves at every stage. Separate tests for its control system, power system and measuring system, as well as an overall test for all working systems have been done. (The rocket is) now in good condition,” Yu Ziwen, commander in chief of the Long March-5B carrier rocket’s power system under the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, told China Central Television (CCTV).
“To satisfy the working needs for Mengtian and the carrier rocket at the launching area, we have specially designed an operation window on the payload fairing,” said Liu Bing, deputy director designer of the Long March-5B carrier rocket.
Credit: The Aerospace Corporation
To ensure wireless communication on its way up, a window designated for wave transmitting was also added, Liu added. “In the meantime, an elaborative evaluation was also carried out after we planned its orbit to enable a successful entry,” he told CCTV.
There have been voiced concerns regarding the Long March-5B’s core stage that, in the past, has fallen back to Earth in an uncontrolled manner – causing consternation as to where and when the discarded stage would makes its plunge.
In the future, this same booster will hurl Xuntian, the Chinese space station telescope.
Station complete is set for year’s end.
Credit: CNAS/CCTV Video News Agency/Inside Outer Space screengrab
T-shaped station
The soon-to-be-lofted module is loaded with scientific equipment to study microgravity and carrying out experiments in fluid physics, materials science, combustion science and fundamental physics.
If successfully launched, Mengtian will join its sister module Wentian, that was launched and successfully docked with the space station in July.
Mengtian will form the final section of the T-shape structure of China’s Tiangong space station.
The three-member crew of the Shenzhou-14 mission, now stationed onboard the space station, will later be joined by three more astronauts in the coming months. The goal is to complete construction of China’s space station by year’s end.
Go to these videos about the rollout of the Chinese booster at:
Posted in Space News
