China launches core module of new space station to orbit

[Ray Allan]

The construction of China's space station is underway.

The core element of the Chinese Space Station launched to Earth orbit tonight (April 28), lifting off at 11:23 pm EDT (0323 GMT on April 29) atop a heavy lift Long March 5B rocket from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site on the island of Hainan.

The 54-foot-long (16.6 meters) module, known as Tianhe ("Harmony of the Heavens") is the first space station component to launch. It will be joined in low Earth orbit later by two slightly smaller elements, forming a T-shaped space station that China aims to complete by the end of 2022.

But Tianhe will see considerable action before then: A Chinese cargo spacecraft is expected to visit the module next month, and three astronauts will come aboard in June, if all goes according to plan.

https://www.space.com/china-launches...-space-station

China's ISS Competitor Begins Construction In Orbit

China's ISS Competitor Begins Construction In Orbit