China postpones launch of cargo spacecraft supplying Tiangong Space Station, citing ‘technical reasons’
- Tianzhou 2 craft was supposed to launch from Hainan, loaded with fuel, parts, equipment and life supplies to sustain astronauts
- New launch time ‘will be determined later’, Xinhua reports
The Tianzhou 2 was expected to launch from the Wenchang spacecraft launch site in the southern island province of Hainan using a Long March 7 (CZ-7) vehicle rocket sometime early on Thursday.
02:05
Debris from China’s Long March rocket lands in Indian Ocean, drawing criticism from Nasa
“The launch of the Tianzhou 2 cargo spacecraft has been postponed due to technical reasons, and the launch time will be determined later,” state news agency Xinhua reported, citing the China Manned Space Agency.
The launch was planned as the second of 11 needed to complete the Tiangong (meaning “heavenly palace”) station, following the core module that was launched in April.
The first unmanned cargo ship was loaded with 4.7 tonnes (5.2 short tons) of spare parts for the station, laboratory equipment and life supplies that could sustain three astronauts for three months, in preparation for the next launch: a manned spaceship with three crew members to become the station’s first group of residents.
