The Long March 7-Y7 carrier rocket is seen on May 10 at the Wenchang Space Launch Center in Hainan province. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINADAILY.COM.CN)
The first spacecraft to visit China's Tiangong space station this year — the Tianzhou 6 robotic cargo ship — is scheduled to launch on Wednesday night, according to the China Manned Space Agency.
With the Tianzhou 6 atop, the Long March 7-Y7 carrier rocket is set to blast off at 9:22 pm at the Wenchang Space Launch Center in the country's southernmost island province of Hainan, the agency said in a brief news release.
Last week, the Tianzhou 5 cargo craft undocked from the Tiangong station and started a solo flight. Its connection hatch will be used by Tianzhou 6
The three-story-tall cargo ship will then travel a couple of hours to rendezvous with the Tiangong station and then dock with the massive outpost in a low-Earth orbit.
READ MORE: Tianzhou 6 cargo spacecraft prepares for take off
The Tianzhou 6 will be the ninth vessel to visit the Chinese space station and the first to do so since the station was completed at the end of 2022.
The Long March 7 is a liquid-fueled rocket developed by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology. Its propellants are liquid oxygen and kerosene and are pollution-free, according to the academy.
The Long March 7 has a height of 53.1 meters, a core-stage diameter of 3.35 m and a lift-off weight of 597 tons.
With six 120-ton-thrust engines, the rocket can send 13.5 tons to low-Earth orbit and 5.5 tons to sun-synchronous orbit.
READ MORE: China's cargo craft Tianzhou 6 ready for launch
Last week, the Tianzhou 5 cargo craft undocked from the Tiangong station and started a solo flight. Its connection hatch will be used by Tianzhou 6.
Tianzhou 5 is scheduled to re-dock with the space station in the coming weeks after the departure of the Shenzhou XV crew, who will return to Earth after their six-month journey ends.
At present, the Shenzhou XV astronauts — mission commander Major General Fei Junlong, Senior Colonel Deng Qingming and Senior Colonel Zhang Lu — have conducted four spacewalks to mount equipment required for extravehicular scientific experiments and technological demonstrations.
The Long March 7-Y7 carrier rocket is seen on May 10 at the Wenchang Space Launch Center in Hainan province. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINADAILY.COM.CN)
The Long March 7-Y7 carrier rocket is seen on May 10 at the Wenchang Space Launch Center in Hainan province. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINADAILY.COM.CN)