China's Tianzhou-8 cargo spacecraft docks with space station combination

China's Tianzhou-8 cargo spacecraft completed its status setting and docked with the orbiting space station at 2:32 a.m. Beijing Time on Saturday, according to the China Manned Space Agency.

The cargo spacecraft successfully docked at the rear docking port of the Tianhe core module.

The Shenzhou-19 crew will enter the Tianzhou-8 cargo spacecraft to carry out cargo transfer and other related work as scheduled.

China launched the cargo spacecraft atop a Long March-7 Y9 carrier rocket from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in south China's island province of Hainan on Friday night.

After about 10 minutes, the cargo spacecraft successfully separated from the rocket and entered the preset orbit. Its solar panels then unfurled smoothly, marking a complete success of the launch.

This is the third cargo supply mission in the application and development phase of China's space station.

It carried approximately six tonnes of supplies, including consumables, propellants, experiment equipment and materials, gift packages for the Spring Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival and Chinese Dragon Boat Festival, and personalized birthday gifts.