China completed a transposition of the Wentian lab module using the large robotic arm at 12:44 p.m. Beijing Time on Friday, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMS).

It is the first time that China has used a transposition mechanism to implement a large volume module transposition in orbit. 

During the transposition process, the Wentian lab module's state configuration was completed, followed by separation from the Tianhe core module, and then it was docked with the side port of the node cabin.

Wentian was moved to the same plane as the core module to ensure the path of its barycenter also stays on the same plane, thus reducing possible disturbances to the space station combination, said Wei Zhi, an engineer from the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology, a subsidiary of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.

Lasting around one hour, the operation was the result of cooperation between astronauts in space and professionals on Earth, the agency said.

China's space station is now in an L-shaped combination and will continue to operate in orbit until the arrival of the Mengtian lab module, China's second space lab, after which the country will complete the T-shaped three-module structure of its space station.

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(With input from Xinhua)