China to Launch New Space Station Core Module in April

China is set to launch the core module of its new space station next month, marking a significant step in its ambitious space exploration program. The core module, named Tianhe (meaning “Harmony of the Heavens” in Chinese), will be launched into orbit aboard a Long March-5B rocket from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in Hainan province.

The launch of the Tianhe module will kick off a series of 11 missions to complete construction of the Chinese space station by 2022. Once operational, the station is expected to host astronauts for long-duration missions, conduct scientific research, and serve as a platform for international cooperation in space exploration.

China’s space station, when completed, will be roughly one-fifth the size of the International Space Station (ISS) and is expected to operate for at least 10 years. The ISS, a joint project involving the United States, Russia, Europe, Japan, and Canada, has been continuously inhabited since November 2000 and orbits the Earth at an average altitude of approximately 420 kilometers.