The weight of the Wentian module is about 20 tons. Length – about 18 meters. It will be used as a laboratory for biological research.
China has successfully launched the Wentian laboratory module to the national orbital station. Xinhua reported this on Sunday, July 24.
The launch was carried out at 14:22 local time (09:22 Kyiv time – ed.) from the Wenchang Cosmodrome on Hainan Island using the Long March-5BY3 launch vehicle (Long March -5BY3).
The weight of the Wentian module (translated from Chinese – questions of heaven) is about 20 tons. Length – about 18 meters. The module will be used primarily as a laboratory for biological research. In addition, it, like the main module of the station – Tianhe, has three sleeping areas, a sanitary unit and a kitchen, which will allow up to six astronauts to be accommodated in the station during crew changes .
Wentian is also equipped with a small robotic arm. Its weight, length and carrying capacity are significantly lower than the manipulator arm installed in Tianhe, but its positioning accuracy is five times higher, which will allow for more complex operations.
Wentian is the first of two laboratory modules deployed in China’s space station orbit. The second laboratory module, Mengtian, is expected to be launched into space in October. After that, the construction of the station will be completed, it will take a T-shape.
The Chinese station is located at an altitude of about 400 km. It is designed for three people (in a short time with a change of crew – up to six) and will last more than 10 years. Today, the station consists of the Tianhe base module, the Tianzhou-4 cargo ship and the Shenzhou-14 manned spacecraft. The crew of the latter arrived at the station in early June and will remain there until the end of December.
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Source: korrespondent
