China's first cargo spacecraft, Tianzhou-1, separated from Tiangong-2 space lab at 4:15 p.m. on Sunday.
At 3:29 p.m. on Sunday, the cargo ship started to separate from the space lab under orders from the ground. After separation, it operated at an orbit of about 400 kilometers above the earth.
Tianzhou-1 will continue to carry out experiments before it leaves orbit, and will gain experience for building and operating a space station.
Tianzhou-1 was launched on April 20 from south China's Hainan Province, and it completed automated docking with the orbiting Tiangong-2 space lab on April 22.
The two spacecraft completed the first in-orbit refueling on April 27, a second refueling on June 15 and a final one on Saturday. In the past five months, Tianzhou-1 has operated smoothly and completed various tasks.
China's cargo spacecraft completes third in-orbit refueling
China's Tianzhou-1 cargo spacecraft and Tiangong-2 space lab completed their third and last in-orbit refueling at 8:17 p.m. Saturday.
The third refueling, lasting about three days, confirmed the technical results from the second refueling.
Tianzhou-1, China's first cargo spacecraft, was launched on April 20 from south China's Hainan Province, and it completed automated docking with the orbiting Tiangong-2 space lab on April 22.
The two spacecraft completed their first in-orbit refueling on April 27 and second on June 15.
In the past five months, Tianzhou-1 has operated smoothly and completed various tasks.
Work on China's mission to Mars 'well underway'
China's programme to launch a mission to Mars in 2020 is "well underway", its top planner said Wednesday as the country moves forward with its ambitious space programme.
The probe will carry 13 types of payload including six rovers, the official Xinhua news agency said.
"The Mars exploration programme is well underway," it cited the mission's chief architect Zhang Rongqiao as saying. … read more
