China will need ten launches to complete its space station
Shane McGlaun - May 1, 2021, 11:12am CDT
Earlier this week, China launched the core module for its new space station. The module is called Tianhe, which translates to Harmony of the Heavens. It launched on Wednesday, April 28th, using a Long March-5B Y2 rocket from a launch site in the Chinese Hainan Province.
Tianhe is the very first module of a space station that, when completed, will be significantly smaller than the ISS in orbit today. The module itself is the largest spacecraft China has ever developed, measuring 54.4 feet long, 13.8 feet wide at its widest point, and a massive 22.5 tons at liftoff. China is now looking at an ambitious plan to complete its space station with help from partner countries and will need ten launches to put all the components for the space station into orbit.