China successfully launches Wentian lab module, adds a second part to its three-module space station
China launched the Wentian lab module for the space station. Photo: Fan Wei/GT Wentian lab module successfully launched. Graphics: GT After moving into the core module of China’s Tianhe space station for more than a month, the crew of three Shenzhou-14 taikonauts are now just hours away from carrying out their first major mission in orbit, accepting the arrival of the Wentian laboratory module and adding it to the China Space Station three modules. With coconut palms shaking on the coastline of the tropical island province of Hainan in South China, the giant Long March-5B Y3 heavy-lift rocket lifted off from the Wenchang Space Launch Site at 2:22 p.m., and successfully delivered Wentian – the first lab module for the station. the country’s outer space – to a predetermined orbit. After a flight of about eight minutes, the Wentian module separated from the rocket body and entered its designated orbit, marking the success of the launch mission, China’s Manned Space Agency said in a sta