Chinese cargo spacecraft begins independent orbit

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China’s first cargo spacecraft Tianzhou 1 is now orbiting independently in space after successfully separating from the Tiangong 2 space lab.

The successful split was completed at 9:47 a.m. on June 21, according to the China Manned Space Engineering Office (CMSEO).

At 9:16 a.m., Tianzhou 1 received commands to separate from the Tiangong 2 space lab, flying in orbit at an altitude of 390 kilometers.

The CMSEO said the cargo spacecraft will soon begin conducting further experiments. Tianzhou 1 is also expected to launch a new satellite and start a third-round refueling tests.

Tianzhou 1's launch brings closer to China’s dream of establishing a permanently-manned space station by 2022. / VCG Photo

Tianzhou 1 was launched on April 20 from Hainan Province, and completed automated docking with the orbiting Tiangong 2 space lab on April 22.

Among its goals is the testing of liquid fuel transfers in microgravity and resupplying the space lab for future manned missions. CMSEO said Tianzhou 1 will leave orbit and fall back to a designated area in the southern part of the Pacific Ocean to complete China’s first controlled destructive re-entry of a spacecraft.

China hopes to establish a permanently-manned space station by 2022.