China has successfully sent the Tianhe base module for its own Tiangong-3 orbital station into low-earth orbit.

The Changzheng 5V launch vehicle launched from the Wenchang Cosmodrome on Hainan Island, after a few minutes, the 22-tonne module successfully undocked, the China National Space Administration reported on Thursday, April 29..

President of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping highlighted the importance of the project for the scientific and technical sphere of the country. Those involved in the creation of the Chinese space station are promoting " 11 launches by the end of 2022 " Installation of all station nodes will require at least 11 launches by the end of 2022. Three are associated with the withdrawal of laboratory modules. In addition, 4 cargo flights and 4 manned missions are planned..

When completed, the station will weigh about 90 tons, which is almost five times less than the 420-ton International Space Station.. The service life of " She will be able to receive three astronauts for up to 6 months. The fate of the former orbital stations of China The first Chinese manned orbital station " A few months before this, communication with Tiangong-1 was lost, in April 2018 the station entered the Earth's atmosphere, its components mostly burned out over the Pacific Ocean. China's second manned station completed work in July 2019 and was deorbited. Reported by Deutsche Welle.