Addis Ababa, April 29, 2021 (Walta) – China launched an unmanned module containing living quarters for three crew on a permanent space station that it plans to complete by the end of 2022, marking another major advance for the country’s space exploration.
The module, named “Tianhe”, or “Heavenly Harmony”, was launched on the Long March 5B, China’s largest carrier rocket, from the Wenchang Space Launch Centre on the southern island of Hainan.
Tianhe is one of three main components of what would be China’s first self-developed space station, rivaling the only other station in service – the International Space Station (ISS).
The ISS is backed by major countries including the United States, Russia, and Japan. China was barred from participating in the ISS due to US objections over the Chinese program’s secretive nature and close military ties.
Tianhe will form the main living quarters for three crew members in the Chinese space station, which will have a life span of at least 10 years.
The Tianhe launch was the first of 11 missions needed to complete the space station, which will orbit Earth at an altitude of 340 to 450 kilometers (211-280 miles).
In the later missions, China will launch the two other core modules, four manned spacecraft and four cargo spacecraft.
(Source: France 24)