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

China is set to deliver essential supplies to its Tiangong space station with the launch of the Tianzhou 8 cargo mission. The mission, led by the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA), is intended to support the Shenzhou 19 crew, which arrived on October 20. Commander Cai Xuezhe, along with novice astronauts Song Lingdong and Wang Haozhe, are expected to receive a new delivery of supplies. and scientific instruments for their continued operation on the station. The Long March 7 rocket carrying the Tianzhou 8 spacecraft was lifted off to its launch pad at the Wenchang Satellite Launch Center on Hainan Island on November 13.

Launch and Docking Schedule

According to a report from Space.com, the Long March 7 rocket is expected to lift off around 10:10 a.m. EST on Friday, with docking expected within a few hours of launch. Based on previous Tianzhou launches, the event is likely to be livestreamed. The cargo mission, originally intended to precede the Shenzhou 19 crew launch, faced delays due to Typhoon Yagi, disrupting preparations at the Wenchang site.

Scientific experiments and supplies on board

The Tianzhou 8 cargo spacecraft is equipped with supplies and scientific materials, including a set of bricks prepared from lunar soil simulant. Over the next three years, these bricks will undergo testing in the vacuum of space to assess their durability under cosmic rays, ultraviolet radiation and temperature fluctuations. The experiment will contribute to China’s International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) project, which aims to establish a permanent lunar base in the 2030s.

Technological progress in Tianzhou 8

This mission marks the third deployment of the upgraded Tianzhou cargo craft, enabling a payload capacity increase of an additional 100 kilograms. With a gross weight of approximately 14,000 kg at launch, Tianzhou 8 now carries up to 7,500 kg of payload, improving logistics efficiency and reducing the need for frequent resupply missions. The upgrade is 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 for commercial activities.

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