China's space station nears completion as Mengtian lab module docks

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01:43

Mengtian, the second lab module and the last major component of China's space station, docked with the front port of the Tianhe core module at 4:27 a.m. Tuesday (Beijing Time) after entering the planned orbit, according to the China Manned Space Agency.

The lab module was launched on Monday afternoon. It took approximately 13 hours for the whole process of rendezvous and docking.

According to the plan, Mengtian will later be relocated to its permanent position and the three modules – Tianhe, Wentian lab module and Mengtian – will form a basic T-shape structure of the space station.

A view of the Mengtian lab module from the core module Tianhe. /CMG

Docking process challenging but went smoothly

The rendezvous and docking process was challenging, but it went smoothly, according to Tang Yi, Head Designer of the China Space Station (CSS) System with China Academy of Space Technology (CAST).

The Mengtian lab module docked with the L-shaped structure made of Tianhe and Wentian, which is asymmetrical, she told CGTN.

The asymmetrical structure means challenges in the control of its attitude and orbit, she said.

"We've carefully designed and calculated the docking process, making it so well coordinated, and go like a dancer moving gracefully from one move to another," Tang said.

Tang, who spent over a decade with the CSS system, said the T-shape configuration perfectly suits the space station's mission in many ways.

"A T-shape configuration is symmetrical and extremely reliable," she said.

The configuration also allows the space station to be further expanded if it's needed, she added.

(CGTN's Sun Ye contributed to the report.)