Tech & Sci
22:12, 10-Apr-2017
Chinese tracking ship sets sail for space monitoring mission
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China’s space tracking ship Yuanwang-7 set out on a mission to monitor Tianzhou-1, China’s first cargo spacecraft, on Monday morning.
The ship is expected to reach a destination in the Pacific Ocean on Thursday, and is scheduled to take over the responsibilities of tracking and communicating after Tianzhou-1 is launched late April.
File photo of Yuanwang-7, China's tracking ship. /CFP Photo
File photo of Yuanwang-7, China's tracking ship. /CFP Photo
It is the first time that Yuanwang-7, a 220-meter-long, 40-meter-high ship, has carried out a journey independently. During its maiden voyage in July 2016, the ship was accompanied by Yuanwang-6.
A member of China's new generation of spacecraft tracking ships, Yuanwang-7 was put in service on July 12, 2016. It has since conducted several tasks, including tracking the missions for Long March-5’s maiden flight and the space rendezvous and docking of manned spacecraft Shenzhou-11 and Tiangong-2 space lab.
A computer-generated image of Tianzhou-1, China's first space cargo ship. /China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation Photo
A computer-generated image of Tianzhou-1, China's first space cargo ship. /China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation Photo
Tianzhou-1, China’s first space cargo ship, is scheduled to be launched from Wenchang Space Launch Center in south China’s Hainan Province late April.
The cargo spacecraft will dock with space lab Tiangong-2 three times during the mission to test on-orbit liquid propellant refueling. It is a crucial step towards China’s goal of establishing its own space station around 2022.
956km