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China to launch Tianzhou-6 cargo craft at 9:22 p.m. BJT Wednesday
Updated 17:31, 10-May-2023
CGTN
The Long March-7 Y7 rocket, carrying the Tianzhou-6 cargo spacecraft, is stationed on its launchpad in the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site, southern China's Hainan Province. /China Manned Space Agency
The Long March-7 Y7 rocket, carrying the Tianzhou-6 cargo spacecraft, is stationed on its launchpad in the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site, southern China's Hainan Province. /China Manned Space Agency

The Long March-7 Y7 rocket, carrying the Tianzhou-6 cargo spacecraft, is stationed on its launchpad in the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site, southern China's Hainan Province. /China Manned Space Agency

China aims to launch the Tianzhou-6 cargo spacecraft from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in southern China's Hainan Province at 9:22 p.m. Beijing Time (1322 GMT) on Wednesday, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).

The primary purpose of Tianzhou-6 is to deliver essential supplies and spacesuits to the taikonauts currently residing aboard the China Space Station, known as the Shenzhou-15 crew. Additionally, the cargo craft will also transport maintenance components, application facilities and propellant to support the operations of the space station.

Compared to its predecessor, Tianzhou-5, Tianzhou-6 boasts a significant increase in weight, providing additional storage space and capacity. Notably, it will carry 70 kilograms of fresh fruit, approximately twice the amount carried by Tianzhou-5.

Click here to more details on the advanced features of the Tianzhou-6 cargo craft.

The CMSA announced that a Long March-7 rocket, carrying the Tianzhou-6 cargo spacecraft, has been loaded with propellant. The rocket was transported to the launchpad on Sunday.

Meanwhile, the Tianzhou-5 cargo craft, which recently detached from the China Space Station, is currently orbiting independently. Following the separation of the manned spaceship Shenzhou-15 from the space station later this month, Tianzhou-5 will dock at another port on the station.

Assembled in late 2022, the China Space Station features a T-shaped basic structure and has already accommodated four groups of taikonauts.

Click here to watch the two-hour live rebroadcast of the preparation process for this launch.

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