China Successfully Launches Mengtian Space Module

China on Monday launched the Mengtian lab module, the third and final module of the nation's Tiangong space station.

The module was carried into space by a Long March-5B Y4 carrier rocket and lifted off at 3:37pm from Hainan. It will first unfold its relay antenna and solar panels after entering its orbit and then start its rendezvous and docking with the space station to form a T-shaped structure.

"After docking with the space station complex, it will start transposition, which is different from the Wentian lab module. Then the Mengtian will connect its system with the complex and create [an] environment for human activities," Wang Saijin, deputy chief engineer of the Beijing Aerospace Control Center said.

"Our crew members will enter the Mengtian after all these processes."

Mengtian is designed as a support module for space scientific research and can manage entry and exit of cargo or equipment.

The scientific equipment in Mengtian will be used for studying microgravity and carrying out experiments in fluid physics, materials science, combustion science and fundamental physics.

The three-member crew of the Shenzhou-14 mission is currently stationed on the space station and will later be joined by three more taikonauts to complete the construction of the station by the end of this year.

In the past two years, China successfully sent the Tianhe core module, three manned spacecraft, the Wentian lab module and three cargo spacecraft into space. (CCTV/Xinhua)