The Long March-5B Y3 launch vehicle, carrying the Wentian lab module, blasted off from Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site at 14:22 (Beijing Time) on July 24, 2022. About 495 seconds later, the Wentian module successfully separated from the rocket and entered the preset orbit. The launch is a complete success.

 

This is the 24th flight mission since the approval and launch of China Manned Space Program. The launched Wentain lab module is the second module for China Space Station and also the first scientific lab module. Wentian is composed of a working module, an airlock chamber and a resource module, with a takeoff weight of about 23t. It is mainly used to support the astronauts on orbit, extra-vehicular activity and space science experiments. At the same time, it can be used as a backup of the Tianhe core module to manage the space station. 

 

Subsequently, the Wentian lab module will rendezvous and dock with the core module assembly according to the predetermined procedures, and the three Shenzhou-14 astronauts will enter the Wentian module and carry out the work.

 

The launch vehicle and the Wentian lab module for this mission were developed by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology and the China Technology of Space Technology respectively under the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC).