China Launches Core Module of Its Planned Space Station

China launched the main module of its first permanent space station on Thursday, April 29.

The Tianhe, which means “heavenly harmony”, was launched aboard the Long March 5B rocket from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in the province of Hainan at 11:23 am local time, reports said.

The module will act as the management and control hub of the space station Tiangong, with a node that could dock with up to three spacecraft at a time, according to the China Academy of Space Technology. Credit: CASC via Storyful