The President of China (Xi) congratulated Xi Jinping on the successful launch of the Key Module of the Space Station.
China Launches Main Module for its Space Station (AFP)
China on Thursday launched the main module for its first permanent space station. China aims to complete the construction of this space station by the end of next year. This module, named ‘Tianhe module’, was launched via the March 5BY2 rocket from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in the southern island of Hainan.
Chinese President Xi Jinping congratulated on the successful launch of the main module of the space station. Xi said in his congratulatory message that the successful launch of the main module shows that the work of preparing China’s special station has been fully in the implementation phase. It lays a solid foundation for the tasks to come. The launch of the main module is considered a major achievement given Beijing’s ambitious space program.
Arrangement for erecting three spacecraft in space station
Bai Linhou, deputy chief designer of space at the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST), told the government communications agency Xinhua that Tianhe module will serve as the management and control center of the space station Tiangong. It has a system of erecting three spacecraft simultaneously. He said that Tianhe module has a length of 16.6 meters, diameter 4.2 meters and weight 22.5 tons and is the largest spacecraft developed by China.
Space station will be installed in the lower orbit of the Earth
Bai Linhou told that the size of the space station will be like the English letter ‘T’, in the middle of which will be the main module. There will be capsules used as lab on both sides. The weight of each module will be 20 tonnes and when astronauts and luggage arrive at the space station, its weight can reach 100 tonnes. This space station is being set up in the lower orbit of the Earth at an altitude of 340 to 450 km and it will work for 10 years. However, experts believe that with proper maintenance and repair it can work for up to 15 years.
China is investing huge amount of money in space program
Chen Lan, who oversees China’s space program, told news agency AFP that the project is a big deal. He said that this will be the largest international space cooperation project for China, so it becomes even more important. In recent years, China has put its space ambitions in front of the world. Beijing has funded a large amount of its space program and in 2019 it also sent a rover to the far side of the moon.
Also read: Incident at Chinese port, oil leaked into sea after ship and tanker collision
.