China launched a laboratory module called Mengtian on Monday to be part of its space station, which is currently under construction. The Long March-5B Y4, one of China‘s largest rockets, was launched from the Wenchang Spacecraft launch site off the coast of the southern island province of Hainan. Science equipment in the Mengtian module, the second laboratory component of China’s under-construction space station, will be used to study microgravity and conduct experiments in fluid physics, materials science, combustion and fundamental physics, state news agency Xinhua reported. .
The Wentian lab that was sent earlier focused more on biological and space life sciences. Mengtian will also carry the world’s first space-based set of cold atomic clocks consisting of hydrogen clocks, rubidium clocks and optical clocks. “If successful, the cold atomic clock will create the most accurate time and frequency system in the universe, which should not lose a single second in hundreds of millions of years,” said Zhang Wei, director of the Technology and Engineering Center for Application Development. The Chinese Academy of Sciences’ use of space was recently reported by the state-run Global Times.
China is currently building its space station, and construction is expected to be completed this year, according to an announcement by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASTC). Two batches containing three astronauts were transported to the space station’s main module, called Tianhe, for a six-month mission to complete construction.
While one group of astronauts returned, another group of three astronauts was currently stationed at Tianhe to complete its construction. When ready, China will be the only country to own a space station. The International Space Station (ISS) of Russia is a cooperation project of several countries. The Chinese Space Station (CSS) is also expected to compete with the Russian-built ISS. Observers say the CSS may become the only space station left in orbit once the ISS retires in the coming years. A prominent feature of China’s under-construction space station is its two robotic arms, particularly the long one, which the US has previously expressed concern about its ability to intercept objects including satellites from space.
Read Now :Supreme Court frowned on the use of the two-finger test for rape survivors
