China launches Mengtian research module to finish construction of Tiangong space station

The 23-tonne component is expected to dock with Tiangong’s core module within hours of lift-off before being relocated by robotic arm to finish station

China’s space station is expected to orbit the Earth as a space outpost and laboratory for cutting-edge research for at least a decade

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The Mengtian experimental module lifts off on a Long March 5B heavy-lift rocket from Wenchang Satellite Launch Centre on Monday. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 3:39pm, 31 Oct 2022Updated: 9:27pm, 31 Oct 2022

China has launched the last module for its Tiangong space station, which will orbit the Earth as a space outpost and laboratory for cutting-edge research for at least a decade.

At 3.37pm on Monday, the Mengtian experimental module lifted off atop a Long March 5B heavy-lift rocket from Wenchang Satellite Launch Centre on southern China’s Hainan Island.

Deng Hongqin, director of the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre, declared the launch a success around 3.50pm.

The 18 metre-long (59-foot) component weighing 23 tonnes – as much as four adult Asian elephants – is expected to dock with Tiangong’s core module within hours of lift-off. The rendezvous will be overseen by astronauts Chen Dong, Liu Yang and Cai Xuzhe who have been living on board the station since June.

The launch date coincided with the anniversary of the death of Qian Xuesen, known as the father of China’s rocket programme, who died on October 31, 2009.

At more than 380km (236 miles) above the Earth, Mengtian will be relocated later by a robotic arm to give Tiangong its final T-shape and conclude the construction phase.

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