On November 15, China launched the Tianzhou-8 cargo spacecraft to supply equipment for the Tiangong space station.
According to the China Manned Space Agency, the Long March 7 rocket, carrying the Tianzhou-8 spacecraft, lifted off from the Wenchang Space Launch Site in Hainan Province, southern China. Approximately 10 minutes later, the Tianzhou-8 separated from the rocket and entered its designated orbit. The spacecraft’s solar panels were deployed. The China Manned Space Agency announced that the launch was a success.
Tianzhou-8 carries essential supplies for astronauts in orbit.
The Tianzhou-8 spacecraft will autonomously dock and connect with the rear port of the Tianhe module of the Tiangong space station approximately 3 hours after launch. China’s Tianzhou cargo spacecraft measures 10.6 meters in length and has a maximum diameter of 3.35 meters, consisting of one cargo module and one fuel module, primarily tasked with transporting supplies and fuel to the Tiangong space station and returning waste from the station back to the atmosphere for incineration and disposal.
In this mission, the Tianzhou-8 is carrying essential supplies for astronauts in orbit, including daily necessities, medical supplies, and materials to support astronauts’ spacewalks. These supplies are primarily intended to assist the upcoming Shenzhou-19 and Shenzhou-20 missions.
Notably, the Tianzhou-8 is also carrying “moon bricks,” created by scientists from Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST). The scientists used lunar soil simulants brought back by the Chang’e 5 spacecraft to create bricks that are three times more durable than regular red bricks or concrete blocks. Additionally, they developed a construction method using layer additive manufacturing technology, also known as 3D printing, a process that creates three-dimensional objects where materials are layered and formed under computer control.
Therefore, the purpose of sending the “moon bricks” into space this time is to test their mechanical performance and heat resistance, as well as their ability to withstand cosmic radiation, to determine if these bricks could be used for building houses on the Moon. It is expected that after the space experiment, the “moon bricks” will return to Earth by the end of 2025.
Additionally, the Tianzhou-8 is carrying fruit flies to conduct scientific experiments in a mixed microgravity environment.
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