By 
October 11th, 2022
Fast paced series of missions will complete China’s space station by year’s end.
Credit: CMSA/CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab
China is entering the final stage of completing the country’s space station.
A Long March 7 carrier rocket that will be used to send the Tianzhou-5 cargo spaceship into orbit to dock with the Tiangong space station arrived at the Wenchang Space Launch Center in Hainan province on October 11, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).
Credit: CNSA/CCTV/CGTN/Inside Outer Space screengrab
The rocket was carried by ships from Tianjin, a northern coastal municipality and home to the rocket’s manufacturing facility, reports China Central Television (CCTV). It will be assembled and then undergo ground tests with the Tianzhou-5 at the launch complex.
Credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab
Rapid pace
China space program officials note that, as scheduled, four missions are set to rapidly occur – the Mengtian lab mission launch, the Tianzhou-5 resupply mission liftoff, the Shenzhou-15 crewed flight, and the return of the three-person Shenzhou-14 team — will be done before the end of this year to realize the full construction of the space station.
Station complete is set for year’s end.
Credit: CNSA/CCTV Video News Agency/Inside Outer Space screengrab
At the same time, preparations for the Shenzhou-15 crewed mission at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China are underway, as is readiness training to handle the return of the now-orbiting Shenzhou-14 crew.
For videos showcasing China’s final staging of missions to complete the country’s space station, go to:
Posted in Space News
