China launches a "Tianzhou 2" cargo vehicle to a space station under construction
China launched Saturday evening its "Tianzhou 2" unmanned cargo vehicle, carrying major supplies to the Chinese space station under construction, according to Xinhua News Agency.
Last week, technical problems delayed the planned launch of a "Long March 7" missile in the Wenchang space port on the island of Hainan in southern China.
China says the importance of Tianzhou 2 stems from bringing supplies and fuel to the main part of the space station called Tianhe (Celestial Harmony), which is due to expire at the end of next year.
Saturday's flight was a precondition for an upcoming manned mission, with the transfer of 3 astronauts to the base unit. The mission is scheduled to depart from the Jiuquan Space Port in the Gobi Desert in June. And they will stay for 3 months.
To complete the space station, two more test vehicles, each weighing about 20 tons, will also be launched into space. Two more cargo flights and two manned missions are scheduled for 2022.
And if the International Space Station ceases to function as planned in the next few years, then China will be the only country that still occupies a permanent advanced position in space.
