Get ready for a cosmic update! On Tuesday, China’s Shenzhou-22 spaceship rocketed into orbit and docked with the Tiangong space station just three hours after launch. 🚀
Lift-off occurred at 12:11 p.m. Beijing time (04:11 a.m. GMT) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Chinese mainland, riding a Long March-2F Y22 rocket. By 3:50 p.m. Beijing time (07:50 a.m. GMT), Shenzhou-22 had smoothly linked up with the front port of the Tianhe core module.
Flying without a crew, the cargo ship carried medical supplies, fresh fruit and veggies, plus specialized gear to repair a cracked window on the Shenzhou-20 spacecraft currently attached to the station. 🥝🔧
Later this year, Shenzhou-22 will serve as the return vessel for the three Shenzhou-21 astronauts now in orbit.
This mission follows a hiccup in mid-November: the Shenzhou-20 return was postponed after its spacecraft was struck by space debris, delaying re-entry from November 5 to November 14.
With swift docking and crucial repairs on the horizon, China’s Tiangong is shaping up as a hub for science and exploration. Stay tuned for more starry news! 🌌✨
Reference(s):
China launches Shenzhou-22 spaceship to Tiangong space station
cgtn.com
