China gearing up for launch of first cargo spacecraft to support future … – SpaceNews

Long March 7 rocket lifting off June 25, 2016. Credit: CMSE

China is gearing up for the launch of its first cargo spacecraft intended to support a future space station.

The Long March 7 rocket that will launch the Tianzhou-1 spacecraft arrived last week at the Wenchang launch site for a launch planned for the latter half of April.

Tianzhou-1 will dock with the uncrewed Tiangong-2 module currently in orbit and test the ability to transfer propellant between the spacecraft and the module.

The launch will be the first for the Long March 7 since its inaugural flight last June carrying a set of experimental payloads. [gbtimes]

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China gearing up for launch of first cargo spacecraft to support future ... - SpaceNews