Shenzhou 17 astronauts are unpacking and checking supplies from the Tianzhou 7 transport at China’s Tiangong space station. On January 17, Wenchang Satellite Launch Center launched Tianzhou 7 on a Long March 7 rocket to the Tiangong space station in slightly over three hours. The China Manned Space Engineering Office released footage of Shenzhou 17 astronauts accessing Tianzhou 7’s hatch and sorting cargo.
Astronaut Supplies, Maintenance Kits, and More for Shenzhou 17 Mission
About 250 cargo packages weighing 12,350 pounds (5,600 kilograms) are in Tianzhou 7’s pressurized compartment. Daily astronaut supplies, maintenance kits, space station spare parts, experiment samples, and propellant are included. The Shenzhou 17 mission commanders Tang Hongbo, Tang Shengjie, and Jiang Xinlin need these supplies to survive their six-month orbital mission. The cargo will also aid Shenzhou 18.
Astronauts inspect cargo in the space station, emphasizing its importance for operations and experiments. Shenzhou 17’s crew will get daily essentials and space station maintenance items.
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Tianzhou 7 Delivers Lunar New Year Cheer and Unity to Astronauts Aboard Tiangong Space Station
Tianzhou 7 brings Shenzhou 17 astronauts Chinese New Year gifts, providing a festive touch to their trip. Additionally, the spacecraft includes gifts for the next crew arriving at Tiangong. These actions demonstrate China’s space exploration unity.
Three modules make up Tiangong, a T-shaped structure 20% the mass of the International Space Station. This is the sixth freight flight to the orbiting outpost since its construction in 2021. The successful cargo delivery and inspection demonstrate China’s space program’s progress in building a fully functional space station, boosting its space exploration footprint.
This event shows China’s dedication to space technology, assuring astronauts’ safety and productivity on the Tiangong space station.
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