A Long March-7 rocket carrying the Tianzhou-5 cargo spacecraft was vertically transported to the launch pad at the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in south China's Hainan Province on Wednesday, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).
The Tianzhou-5 will carry tonnes of essential items for Shenzhou-15 crew's daily life and work at the space station, including special packages for the Spring Festival, China Media Group reported, adding it will also carry gifts for the Shenzhou-14 crew currently in space.
A Long March-7 carrier rocket carrying the Tianzhou-5 cargo craft is at the launch pad at the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in south China's Hainan Province, November 9, 2022. /China Media Group
Facilities at the Wenchang Space Launch Site are in good condition, the CMSA said. Various functional inspections and final tests will be carried out as planned and the rocket is expected to launch in the near future, the space agency added.
The launch site has successfully completed the major launch tasks of three large modules – Tianhe, Wentian and Mengtian – and four cargo spaceships, contributing to the formation of the basic T-shaped structure of the space station.
(Cover: A Long March-7 carrier rocket carrying the Tianzhou-5 cargo craft is being transported to the launch pad at the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in south China's Hainan Province, November 9, 2022. /China Aerospace Science and Technology)