Space Stations
The Chinese Tianzhou-2 cargo spacecraft has reached the Tianhe core module of the Chinese space station
A few hours ago the Chinese Tianzhou-2 cargo spacecraft docked to the Tianhe core module of the Chinese space station successfully completing an automated maneuver. Tianzhou-2 was launched a few hours earlier atop a Long March-7 Y3 rocket from the Wenchang site. This is the first space cargo spacecraft launched towards the new Chinese space station, carrying propellant and supplies for the taikonauts, as the Chinese call their astronauts, who will start working on the station starting in mid-June, according to plan.
A successful launch for the Tianhe module, the core of the Chinese space station
A few hours ago, the Chinese Tianhe module was launched from the Wenchang base atop a Long March 5B Y2 rocket. After about an hour, it successfully separated from the rocket’s last stage, deployed its solar panels, and reached its orbit. Over the next few days, its thrusters will be used to adjust the orbit to an altitude between 340 and 350 kilometers.
Mission Crew-2: the SpaceX Crew Dragon Endeavour spacecraft has reached the International Space Station to complete the Expedition 65 crew
A little while ago, SpaceX’s Crew Dragon Endeavour spacecraft docked to the International Space Station’s Harmony module completing the first part of its Crew-2 or SpaceX Crew-2 mission that began yesterday with its launch. After checking that the pressure is correctly balanced, the hatch will be opened to allow Thomas Pesquet, Megan McArthur, Shane Kimbrough, and Akihiko Hoshide to enter the Station.
Three astronauts included in the Expedition 64 have reached the International Space Station
A few hours ago the Soyuz MS-18 spacecraft was launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan and after a little more than three hours reached the International Space Station with the three new crew members Mark Vande Hei, Oleg Novitskiy, and Pyotr Dubrov on board. For the second time, the ultra-fast route was used which halves the journey duration.
