Mengtian lab module, carrier rocket moved to launchpad

The combination of the Mengtian lab module and a Long March-5B Y4 carrier rocket arrives at the launchpad in south China's Hainan Province, October 25, 2022. (Zheng Yibing/CGTN)

The Mengtian lab module of China's space station and a Long March-5B Y4 carrier rocket were transferred to the launchpad at Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in south China's Hainan Province on Tuesday, according to the China Manned Space Agency.

Mengtian is scheduled to be launched this month atop the carrier rocket to join the Tianhe core module and the previously launched Wentian lab module of the space station, forming a T-shaped complex by the end of this year.

In the next few days, various pre-launch functional checks and joint tests will be carried out as planned at the launch site.

About the Mengtian lab module

Mengtian means "Dreams of Heaven." The module weights more than 20 tonnes. It's 17.9 meters long and has a maximum diameter of 4.2 meters. The lab module can be further subdivided into work, resource, payload and cargo airlock modules.

Mengtian is mainly designed for scientific experiments. Unlike Tianhe and Wentian, it doesn't have a sleeping cabin. Instead, it's full of cabinets that can satisfy hundreds of experiments.

The module will focus on microgravity scientific research. It is equipped with multi-disciplinary laboratory cabinets for experiments of fluid physics, materials and combustion science, basic physics and aerospace technology.