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The Long March-5B Y4 carrier rocket, with the Mengtian lab module of China’s space station atop, was transferred to the launchpad at Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in south China’s Hainan Province on Tuesday, according to the China Manned Space Agency.
Mengtian, the last major part of China’s space station, is scheduled to be launched in the coming days to join the Tianhe core module and the Wentian lab module, forming a T-shaped complex by the end of this year.
In the next few days, various pre-launch functional checks and joint tests will be carried out as planned at the launch site.
The whole transportation process took three hours and went smoothly after a rainy day in Wenchang. And all systems at the launch site are working well.
“The Long March-5B carrier rocket has undergone all procedures at the technical zone … All its parts are in very good condition,” said Su Lei, chief designer of the Long March-5B Rocket Control System at the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALVT).
The Long March-5B carrier rocket for the Mentian lab module launch mission in the assembly building before being moved to the launchpad at Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in south China’s Hainan Province October 25, 2022. / Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site
About the Mengtian lab module
Mengtian means “Dreams of Heaven.” The module weighs more than 20 tonnes. It’s 17.9 meters long and has a maximum diameter of 4.2 meters. The lab module can be further subdivided into work, resource, payload and cargo airlock modules.
Mengtian is mainly designed for scientific experiments. Unlike Tianhe and Wentian, it doesn’t have a sleeping cabin. Instead, it’s full of cabinets that can satisfy hundreds of experiments.
The module will focus on microgravity scientific research. It is equipped with multi-disciplinary laboratory cabinets for experiments of fluid physics, materials and combustion science, basic physics and aerospace technology.
“Since arriving at the launch site, the Mengtian lab module has gone through various tests, like the final assembly, propellant fueling and a joint examination. Now, it’s ready for launch,” said Meng Yao, deputy chief designer of overall planning for Mengtian Lab Module at Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology.
Excitement on site
The launch of the Mengtian lab module will be the ninth mission for the construction of China’s space station. And walking along the route from the assembly building to the launchpad, greater joy and excitement from the staff involved in the mission could be felt.
“I feel especially excited and proud, because after Mengtian – the second space lab – is sent into orbit and docked with China’s space station, the space station will basically take shape,” said Wang Yumeng, a managing designer of the Long March-5B Rocket Control System at the CALVT.
“Since the maiden flight of the Long March-5B carrier rocket, I have been constantly coming here. And we have this tradition to escort the rockets to the launchpad. Now, as always, I am excited,” said Zhang Yu, deputy chief designer of the Long March-5B Rocket Attitude Control System at the CALVT.
