24 July 2022
On 24 July, at 14:22 BJT, a CZ-5B launched the Wentian space station module from Wenchang Space Launch Centre. The new module will function both as a backup of the core module and as a scientific experiment platform. In the next couple of hours, the Wentian will rendezvous and then dock with the Tiangong station's Tianhe core module. The Wentian module is 17.9 m long, has a maximum diameter of 4.2 m, and a takeoff mass of 23 t. After checks by the SZ-14 crew, Wentian will be repositioned in coming weeks by a robotic arm from the forward docking port to a lateral port, where it will remain and be prepared for long-term operation.
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Jean Deville took the effort to live stream the launch and moderated the event - including translating the Chinese audio. A must see for all space enthusiasts!
23 July 2022
The final rehearsal for the launch of the Wentian lab module of the China Space Station was completed on Friday, 22 July, with each system ready for the launch. The rehearsal was mainly aimed at inspecting the various tasks for the launch mission. The 1st rehearsal was held after the Wentian lab module, and the CZ-5B Y3 carrier rocket were transported to the launchpad on Monday, 18 July, to test the changes in the airfields and cumulonimbus clouds during the typhoon season.
According to the testing results, the recent meteorological conditions meet the basic environmental requirements for the launch. The rocket has completed various functional inspections as well as pre-launch preparations.
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23 July 2022
The expected weather condition for the launch of the Wentian lab module are good. Gan Sijiu, the Chief Weather Forecaster at the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site for the mission shared her her opinion on the weather forecast for the launch missions in an exclusive interview with CGTN. "The rocket launch has certain requirements on weather and meteorology environment. It cannot be done during thunderstorms or during heavy precipitation," said Gan. "It should avoid strong winds, including surface wind and close-to-the-ground air currents." Gan noted that the numerical models at their station can predict typhoons seven to ten days in advance.
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23 July 2022
Using the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope (FAST), scientists have identified over 660 new pulsars. "The development of FAST has entered a golden period, and the stable operation of observation equipment has made a great contribution to this," said Jiang Peng, chief engineer of FAST. "Adequate observation time and outstanding signal capture ability have allowed FAST to perform better than other radio telescopes."
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23 July 2022
On the occassion of its 2nd launch anniversary, Tianwen 1 took close-up photos of the Mars moon Phobos. The high-resolution data were transmitted to Earth on 23 July 2022. According to CNSA, the Tianwen 1 operation team seized the timing when the orbiter was close to Phobos and obtained clear images of the satellite in its "full moon" state. It is China's first time conducting Phobos imaging exploration and obtaining first-hand scientific data at close range. CASC stated that the probe provides valuable data for scientists to research Phobos' topography and operation laws and accumulates experience for China's planetary exploration programme.
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20 July 2022
The CZ-5B rocket, developed on the basis of the design of the CZ-5, is the most powerful heavy-lift rocket in China and is primarily used for launches into LEO. With a length of 53 m and over 1,000 t of thrust for taking off, the rocket can carry 25 t payloads to the designated orbit, making it one of the most capable rockets in the world.
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