The CNSA –China National Space Administration China Space Station Mengtian Experiment Module and the space station combination completed the rendezvous and docking in orbit After the space station Mengtian Experiment Module was launched into orbit, at 4:27 on November 1st Tuesday, 2022 Hong Kong SAR- Beijing time, it was successfully docked in front of the Tianhe core module To the port, the entire rendezvous and docking process lasted about 13 hours. In the follow-up, the relocation of the Mengtian experimental module will be implemented as planned. The Mengtian experimental module will form the basic configuration combination of the “T” shape of the space station with the Tianhe core module and the Wentian experimental module.
The Mengtian experimental module is expected to be repositioned on November 3. After the relocation is completed, it will form a “T” basic configuration combination of the space station with the Tianhe core module and the Wentian experimental module.
In the follow-up, the Mengtian experimental module will rendezvous and dock with the space station assembly according to the predetermined procedure. After completing the relevant functional tests, the Mengtian experimental cabin will be repositioned as planned. The Shenzhou 14 astronaut crew is ready to welcome the visit of the Mengtian experimental module.
The Mengtian experimental cabin is the third section of the Chinese space station and the second scientific experimental cabin. It consists of a working cabin, a load cabin, a cargo airlock cabin and a resource cabin. The take-off weight is about 23 tons. It is mainly used for space science and Applying experiments, participating in the management of the space station assembly; the cargo airlock can support the automatic entry and exit of cargo, and provide support for scientific experiments inside and outside the cabin.
In the follow-up, the Mengtian experimental module will rendezvous and dock with the space station assembly according to the predetermined procedure. After completing the relevant functional tests, the Mengtian experimental cabin will be repositioned as planned. The Shenzhou 14 astronaut crew is ready to welcome the visit of the Mengtian experimental module.
The Mengtian experimental cabin is equipped with a cargo airlock and an outboard deployment test platform. In the future, the scientific test equipment that needs to be installed outside the cabin can be transported to the space station through a cargo spacecraft, and then the load will be sent to the outside of the cabin through the cargo airlock, and the robotic arm or astronaut will install it on the platform outside the cabin. Realize the continuous update of the extravehicular test project.
Images and visuals are from their Respectives CMS China Manned SpaceCNSA-China National Space Administration