Chinese Astronauts Set Up New Laboratory on Space Station
2022-07-28
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1Chinese astronauts have entered a new laboratory that arrived at the country's orbiting space station this week.
2The Wentian lab module launched Sunday aboard a Long March 5B-Y3 rocket from a Chinese space center on the southern island of Hainan, official media reported.
3The flight lasted 13 hours.
4The module is the second of three that will complete the country's Tiangong space station.
5The last module, called the Mengtian, is to launch in October.
6Chinese officials have said they expect the space station to be fully operational by the end of this year.
7Three Chinese astronauts who began a six-month stay on the space station in June oversaw the Wentian lab's arrival and connection to the main module.
8The orbiting labs are designed to permit astronauts to carry out scientific and biological experiments and test new technologies.
9Among the first planned research will be cellular and growth experiments involving plants, fruit flies and zebrafish, the official Xinhua news agency reported.
10The astronauts currently visiting the space station live in the main Tianhe module.
11When fully complete, the station is designed to house up to six astronauts at a time.
12The current astronauts aboard the space station include commander Chen Dong and team members Liu Yang and Cai Xuzhe.
13The group is expected to return to Earth in December after a new crew arrives.
14Hours after the arrival of the module, state broadcaster CCTV showed video of the astronauts floating inside the new lab.
15CCTV described the launch and linking operation as "a complete success."
16China's state-run Global Times newspaper reported the 23-ton Wentian lab is heavier than any other single module spacecraft currently in space.
17The module will serve as the main entry and exit point for future space vehicle activities.
18The completed Tiangong structure will be about one-fifth the size of the International Space Station (ISS), Reuters news agency reported.
19The space station project marks the latest step forward for China's space program.
20About one year ago, China successfully landed a spacecraft on Mars.
21The Tianwen-1 spacecraft carried a robotic explorer, called Zhurong.
22The explorer, or rover, is expected to measure atmospheric conditions and magnetic forces during its search for signs of ancient life on Mars.
23China's space program is run by the ruling Communist Party's military wing, the People's Liberation Army.
24China has largely completed its Tiangong program without other nations' assistance.
25The U.S. did not permit China to cooperate with the International Space Station because of the Chinese space program's military ties.
26China launched its first astronaut into orbit in 2003, making it only the third country to do so on its own after the former Soviet Union and the U.S.
27China has also returned lunar samples to Earth and officials have discussed a possible crewed mission to the moon.
28Next year, China is planning to launch a large new space telescope.
29The telescope is to be positioned in the same orbit as Tiangong, permitting the station to link up with it for refueling and repairs when needed.
30I'm Bryan Lynn.
1Chinese astronauts have entered a new laboratory that arrived at the country's orbiting space station this week. 2The Wentian lab module launched Sunday aboard a Long March 5B-Y3 rocket from a Chinese space center on the southern island of Hainan, official media reported. The flight lasted 13 hours. 3The module is the second of three that will complete the country's Tiangong space station. The last module, called the Mengtian, is to launch in October. Chinese officials have said they expect the space station to be fully operational by the end of this year. 4Three Chinese astronauts who began a six-month stay on the space station in June oversaw the Wentian lab's arrival and connection to the main module. 5The orbiting labs are designed to permit astronauts to carry out scientific and biological experiments and test new technologies. Among the first planned research will be cellular and growth experiments involving plants, fruit flies and zebrafish, the official Xinhua news agency reported. 6The astronauts currently visiting the space station live in the main Tianhe module. When fully complete, the station is designed to house up to six astronauts at a time. 7The current astronauts aboard the space station include commander Chen Dong and team members Liu Yang and Cai Xuzhe. The group is expected to return to Earth in December after a new crew arrives. 8Hours after the arrival of the module, state broadcaster CCTV showed video of the astronauts floating inside the new lab. CCTV described the launch and linking operation as "a complete success." 9China's state-run Global Times newspaper reported the 23-ton Wentian lab is heavier than any other single module spacecraft currently in space. The module will serve as the main entry and exit point for future space vehicle activities. 10The completed Tiangong structure will be about one-fifth the size of the International Space Station (ISS), Reuters news agency reported. 11The space station project marks the latest step forward for China's space program. 12About one year ago, China successfully landed a spacecraft on Mars. The Tianwen-1 spacecraft carried a robotic explorer, called Zhurong. The explorer, or rover, is expected to measure atmospheric conditions and magnetic forces during its search for signs of ancient life on Mars. 13China's space program is run by the ruling Communist Party's military wing, the People's Liberation Army. China has largely completed its Tiangong program without other nations' assistance. The U.S. did not permit China to cooperate with the International Space Station because of the Chinese space program's military ties. 14China launched its first astronaut into orbit in 2003, making it only the third country to do so on its own after the former Soviet Union and the U.S. China has also returned lunar samples to Earth and officials have discussed a possible crewed mission to the moon. 15Next year, China is planning to launch a large new space telescope. The telescope is to be positioned in the same orbit as Tiangong, permitting the station to link up with it for refueling and repairs when needed. 16I'm Bryan Lynn. 17The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse reported on this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the reports for VOA Learning English. 18___________________________________________________________ 19Words in This Story 20module - n. a part of an object that can operate alone, especially a part of a spacecraft 21exit -n. a way out or a point to leave from 22sample - n. a small amount of something that gives you information about the thing it was taken from 23______________________________________________________________ 24What do you think of this story? We want to hear from you. We have a new comment system. Here is how it works: 25Each time you return to comment on the Learning English site, you can use your account and see your comments and replies to them. Our comment policy is here.