China has rotated a space station module to a lateral docking port as a part of the method of constructing its T-shaped Tiangong space station.
China launched the second Tiangong module, named Wentian, in July. Wentian joined the Tianhe core module by docking with its ahead docking port hours later.
The Shenzhou 14 astronaut crew aboard the under-construction Tiangong space station has been testing Wentian ever since, together with conducting a pair of spacewalks utilizing the module’s airlock.
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Now Wentian has been transpositioned, or moved, from the ahead port to its deliberate everlasting location at Tianhe’s starboard lateral port.
The roughly one-hour operation was accomplished at 12:44 a.m. EDT (0444 GMT; 12:44 p.m. Beijing time) on Sept. 30, in keeping with China’s human spaceflight company. A purpose-made powered mechanical machine was used to modify Wentian from the ahead port to the starboard port.
Shenzhou 14 astronauts Chen Dong, Liu Yang and Cai Xuzhe labored in coordination with floor crews in preparation for the module transfer, although it was primarily automated.
Checks for module transposition have been carried out earlier this year utilizing a Tianzhou cargo spacecraft and Tianhe’s giant robotic arm.
The transferring of Wentian is a giant step for Tiangong. It makes manner for the arrival of the third and closing module, named Mengtian, which is expected to launch close to the tip of October.
Mengtian will likewise be transpositioned to its deliberate port aspect location after becoming a member of the Tiangong station.
These maneuvers will mark the completion of the three-module, T-shaped Tiangong. The station’s first-ever crew handover is anticipated to happen in December, when the Shenzhou 15 crew arrive at Tiangong to be greeted by the Shenzhou 14 astronauts.
China authorized its space station venture in 1992 and plans to maintain Tiangong completely crewed for at the very least 10 years.
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