Beijing; China’s 3rd and final module docked with its permanent space station on Tuesday to further a more than decade-long effort to maintain a constant crewed presence in orbit.
Giving an image in technology, the Mengtian module arrived at the Tiangong station on Tuesday morning, the state broadcaster CCTV said in its statement, citing the China Manned Space Agency.
Scientifically, the Mengtian module was fired into space on Monday afternoon from the Wenchang Satellite Launch Center on the southern island province of Hainan and it was expected to take about 13 hours to complete the flight circle for a docking mission.
Witnessing the process of the launch, a large crowd of amateur photographers, space enthusiasts, and others watched the lift-off from an adjoining beach on China’s territory.
Strategically, the crowd waved right and left Chinese flags and wore T-shirts emblazoned with the characters for China, reflecting the deep national pride invested in the space program and the technological progress into Space.
“The scientific space program is technologically a symbol of a major country and a boost to the modernization of China’s national defense,” Ni Lexiong, a professor at Shanghai University of Political Science and Law said in a statement.
“On the other hand it is also a point of view as far as technology is concerned, boosting the confidence of the Chinese people,” Ni Lexiong added to the statement.
Furthermore, Tiangong is currently hosted by two crew Male and Female astronauts, according to the China Manned Space Agency.
Giving scientific roadmap; Chen Dong, Cai Xuzhe and Liu Yang arrived in early June 2022 for a six-month stay on board, during which they will complete the station’s assembly, conduct Spacewalks and carry out technological experiments.
In addition, the Mengtian’s arrival into Space, an additional uncrewed Tianzhou cargo craft is due to dock the station.
Signifying the process, another scientific crewed mission is scheduled for December, at which time crews may overlap as Tiangong has sufficient room to accommodate six astronauts.
Finally, Mengtian weighs about 23 tons which is 17.9 meters (58.7 feet) long and has a diameter of 4.2 meters (13.8 feet). Also, it will provide space for advanced science experiments in zero gravity, an airlock for exposure to the vacuum of space, and a small robotic arm to support extravehicular payloads.
