China set to launch Tianzhou 8 cargo mission to Tiangong space station

China is set to deliver critical supplies to its Tiangong space station with the launch of the Tianzhou 8 cargo mission. The mission, led by the China Manned Space Mission Agency (CMSA), aims to support the crew of Shenzhou 19, arrived October 20. Commander Cai Xuzhe, alongside rookie astronauts Song Lingdong and Wang Haoze, are expected to receive a new shipment of supplies. and scientific equipment for the continuation of their operations on board the station. The Long March 7 rocket carrying the Tianzhou 8 spacecraft was moved to its launch pad at the Wenchang Satellite Launch Center on Hainan Island on November 13.

Launch and docking schedule

According to a report According to Space.com, the Long March 7 rocket is scheduled to lift off Friday around 10:10 a.m. EST, with docking expected a few hours after launch. A live broadcast of the event is likely, based on previous Launch of Tianzhou. The cargo mission, initially planned to precede the launch of the Shenzhou 19 crew, was delayed due to Typhoon Yagi, which disrupted preparations at the Wenchang site.

Scientific experiments and supplies on board

The Tianzhou 8 cargo spacecraft is equipped with supplies and scientific equipment, including a set of bricks made from a lunar soil simulator. Over the next three years, these bricks will be tested in the vacuum of space to assess their durability to cosmic rays, ultraviolet rays and temperature variations. This experiment will contribute to China’s International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) project, which aims to establish a permanent lunar base in the 2030s.

Technological advances in Tianzhou 8

This mission marks the third deployment of an upgraded Tianzhou cargo ship, with upgrades to increase payload capacity by an additional 100 kilograms. With a total weight of approximately 14,000 kilograms at launch, Tianzhou 8 now carries up to 7,500 kilograms of payload, improving logistics efficiency and reducing the need for frequent resupply missions. The improvements are part of a broader strategy to keep Tiangong Station permanently staffed and operational for at least a decade, with plans to expand the station and open it to commercial activities.

China’s Tiangong space station, about a fifth the size of the International Space Station (ISS), plays a key role in the country’s growing space ambitions.