China

Zhōngguó

中国

successfully

chénggōng

成功

to launch

fāshè

发射

new type / next-generation

xīn xíng

新型

cargo spacecraft

huòyùn fēichuán

货运飞船

Qingzhou (spacecraft name)

Qīngzhōu

青舟

prototype

yuánxíng

原型

verification prototype

yànzhèng jī

验证机

。

New Words

News in English

China Successfully Launches Qingzhou Cargo Spacecraft Prototype

China successfully launched a prototype of its new Qingzhou cargo spacecraft on March 30, marking a key step in developing a low-cost resupply vessel for the Tiangong space station. The prototype weighs about 4,200 kilograms and carries 27 scientific experiment payloads with a planned orbital lifetime of three years.

China successfully launched a prototype verification spacecraft named Qingzhou on March 30. This cargo spacecraft prototype was launched using the Kinetica-2 launch vehicle, marking the rocket's maiden flight.

The rocket launched smoothly from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center's commercial spaceflight innovation test zone.

The Qingzhou spacecraft was developed by the Microsatellite Innovation Research Institute under China's crewed spaceflight program.

The verification prototype weighs approximately 4,200 kilograms and carries 27 scientific experiment payloads with a total weight of about 1,020 kilograms.

Qingzhou is positioned as a lighter, lower-cost resupply transport option compared to the existing Tianzhou cargo spacecraft.

The verification prototype has a designed in-orbit service lifetime of three years, with the full production version Qingzhou-1 expected to launch within approximately one year.

This launch is an important step in China's ongoing effort to improve logistics and resupply capabilities for the Tiangong space station.

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