China launches its first cargo spacecraft 'Tianzhou-1'

Beijing: China has launched its first cargo spacecraft Tianzhou-1 from the Wenchang Space Launch Centre in Hainan province on Thursday.

Tianzhou-1 is the fisrt cargo ship independently developed by China.

According to Xinhua news agency report, in space, the cargo spacecraft will dock with the orbiting Tiangong-2 space lab, provide fuel and other supplies, and conduct space experiments before returning.

China aims to build a permanent space station that is expected to orbit for at least 10 years, and the debut of the cargo ship is important as it acts as a courier to help maintain the space station, said the authorities.

Without a cargo transportation system, the station would run out of power and basic necessities, causing it to return to Earth before the designated time.

(With IANS inputs)