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A Long March-7 rocket carrying the Tianzhou-6 cargo spacecraft was vertically transported to the launchpad at Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in south China's Hainan Province on Sunday.
Tianzhou-6 will be the first launch mission for China Space Station as it began full operations this year. It is expected to deliver supplies, including daily necessities and consumables for taikonauts, science payloads, maintenance spare parts and propellants. It will return with in-orbit trash. The launch is expected to be carried out in the coming days.
Weighing 13.5 tonnes, the Tianzhou-6 cargo craft will be the first cargo craft of its series to boost its loading capacity from 6.9 tonnes to 7.4 tonnes, one of the most powerful cargo craft in the world.
According to the China Academy of Space Technology, the spacecraft's effective loading capacity is up from 18.1 cubic meters to 22.5 cubic meters and the storage of the cargo craft expanded by around 20 percent.
"We will carry out a slew of inspections over the entire spacecraft," said Ren Liang with the China Academy of Space Technology. He said the inspection will include power supply and functional performance and equipment compatibility. "The craft will be ready for launch after we give a comprehensive assessment of its health."
Tianzhou-6 cargo spacecraft was vertically transported to the launchpad at Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in south China's Hainan Province, May 7, 2023. /CGTN
On May 5, the Tianzhou-5 cargo spacecraft separated from the orbiting station combination and switched to independent flight. It will circle around the station and dock at the forward port of its node cabin after the Shenzhou-15 manned spaceship separates from the station combination, which is expected to happen later this month.
Read more:
China reveals more details on upcoming Tianzhou-6 launch in early May
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Copyright © 2023 CGTN. 京ICP备16065310号
Disinformation report hotline: 010-85061466