The Buzz | China launches its 1st unmanned cargo spacecraft

China has launched its first unmanned cargo spacecraft on a mission to dock with the country’s space station.

The Tianzhou 1 blasted off at 7:41 p.m. yesterday atop a latest-generation Long March 7 rocket from China’s newest spacecraft launch site, Wenchang, on the island province of Hainan.

It is programmed to conduct scientific experiments after reaching the now-crewless Tiangong 2, China’s second space station. A pair of Chinese astronauts spent 30 days on board the station last year.

Categories China