[Explanation] At 20:55 on May 29th, Beijing time, China successfully launched the Tianzhou-2 cargo spacecraft with the Long March 7 Yaosan rocket at the Wenchang Space Launch Site.
What does Tianzhou 2 look like?
How is its shipping capacity?
Recently, Xie Yongchun, director of the Science and Technology Committee of the 502nd Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, accepted an exclusive interview with China News Agency to introduce the relevant situation.
[Explanation] The Tianzhou-2 cargo spacecraft is the first spacecraft in the construction phase of the space station project.
This mission will realize the rendezvous and docking of the cargo spacecraft and the space station's core module for the first time, transporting the daily necessities needed by the astronauts on the space station, the materials for conducting space science experiments, and the propellant used to supplement the space station's core module.
Tianzhou-2 adopts a two-cabin configuration, which is composed of a fully sealed cargo compartment and a propulsion compartment. It has a total length of 10.6 meters, a maximum diameter of 3.35 meters, a maximum take-off weight of 13.5 tons, and a material upward capacity of 6.9 tons.
[Concurrent] Xie Yongchun, Director of Science and Technology Committee, 502 Institute of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation
Our Tianzhou-2 cargo spacecraft is the first spacecraft to dock with the core module of the space station. The main function of the Tianzhou-2 cargo spacecraft is to transport some supplies for our space station, including the daily necessities for astronauts. , And some fuel.
Tianzhou 2 also transports cargo, so its composition mainly includes a cargo compartment and a propulsion compartment.
[Explanation] During its orbiting operation, the Tianzhou-2 cargo spacecraft will ensure the first three astronauts to enter the Tiangong space station, complete a three-month residency mission, and carry out teleoperation rendezvous and docking, and additional tests on the forward docking interface. , Robotic arm indexing test and other key technology verification.
[Concurrent] Xie Yongchun, Director of Science and Technology Committee, 502 Institute of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation
In addition to the transportation of cargo, Tianzhou 2 will refuel the space station and will also do some on-orbit tests, such as manual remote control tests.
Because after the launch of Tianzhou-2, our Shenzhou-12 will be launched. After the astronauts enter orbit, they must operate the manual rendezvous and docking equipment to complete the manual rendezvous and docking.
There is also a test for the indexing mechanism of the space station. We know that the space station is equipped with a robotic arm and an indexing mechanism. It will be used to test the indexing of the test cabin of the space station. Therefore, the Tianzhou 2 will also be responsible for the rotation. Bit test task.
[Explanation] In the follow-up, the Tianzhou-2 cargo spacecraft will be docked backwards, and the Shenzhou-12 manned spacecraft will be docked forwards to the space station's Tianhe core module, which will complete the first "one" configuration of the Chinese space station.
[Concurrent] Xie Yongchun, Director of Science and Technology Committee, 502 Institute of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation
We will have the Shenzhou 12 manned spacecraft immediately after the Tianzhou-2 mission, and it will be docked with the space station. After the docking, the astronauts enter the core compartment and then enter the cargo spacecraft to carry the materials on the cargo spacecraft to the space station. Core cabin.
[Explanation] Experts said that the Tianzhou cargo spacecraft has comprehensively strengthened the system optimization design and reliability design of the platform plan and the cargo plan, and has achieved the design goals of high efficiency and multi-function, high autonomy, high reliability and high safety, and the overall performance has reached the international level. Advanced level.
Reporting from Beijing by reporter Shan Lu and Guo Chaokai
Editor in charge: [Song Fangcan]