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.
On the 3rd November 2022 Morning 0932 Morning Hong Kong SAR –Beijing time The “T” shape is assembled! The space station Mengtian experimental module successfully completed the transposition China Space Station T-shaped basic configuration on-orbit assembly completed Beijing time on November 3, 2022 at 9:32; the space station Mengtian experimental module successfully completed the transposition.
During the transposition, the Mengtian experimental module first completed the relevant state settings, and then separated from the space station assembly. After that, the plane transposition method was used to complete the transposition in about an hour, and then docked with the lateral port of the Tianhe core module node cabin again. This afternoon, the Shenzhou 14 astronaut crew will enter the Mengtian experimental module.
The completion of the transposition of the Mengtian experimental module marks the completion of the on-orbit assembly of the basic configuration of the “T” shape of the Chinese space station, a key step towards the goal of building a space station. According to the plan, the basic function test and evaluation of the space station assembly will be carried out in the future
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