China has sent three more astronauts to complete the final work on the space station. The researchers on the Shenzhou-14 mission will spend six months at the Tiankong station. They will oversee the integration of the two laboratory modules into the main part of the space station.
The spacecraft was launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center near the Gobi Desert at 10.44am local time on Sunday. The Long March 2F rocket was used to transport the three to the station. Fifteen minutes after launch, the spacecraft entered orbit and the solar panels began operating. Commander Chen Dong and fellow astronauts Liu Yang and Kai Sooshe were on board.
The launch was broadcast live on state television. This indicates China’s growing confidence in space missions. It is also seen as a sign of China’s technological progress and global influence.
China plans to complete work on the Tiangong space station later this year. Tianhe, a major part of the space station, was launched in April 2021. The parts to be sent to the Tiankong space station will be scientific laboratories similar to the parts on the International Space Station.
When the International Space Station was established, China was unable to be a part of it due to US opposition. Following this, China decided to set up its own space station. China launched the Tiankong space station after two test space stations.
English Summary: China launches three astronauts to complete space station assembly
