Letters | Why China’s Tianzhou 5 spacecraft launch is of global significance

Readers discuss advances in China’s space exploration technology, and social attitudes towards low-income workers

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The Long March 7 Y6 rocket, carrying cargo spacecraft Tianzhou 5, blasts off from the Wenchang spacecraft launch site in south China’s Hainan province on November 12. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 2:30pm, 24 Nov 2022

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Tianzhou 5, a cargo spacecraft designed in China, was launched from the Wenchang spacecraft launch site on November 12 to deliver supplies in preparation for the upcoming Shenzhou 15 crewed mission. In just about two hours, Tianzhou 5 successfully docked at the Tiangong space station, setting a record for the shortest rendezvous and docking time.

The quick rendezvous and docking does more than showcase Chinese speed. It also saves fuel and would enable faster rescues in case of space emergencies. Furthermore, once this technology is employed in the Shenzhou manned spacecraft, it will not only allow astronauts to enter the space station within a few hours, but also make it possible to send special living specimens to space.

Two hours from launch to docking is likely to become the new norm for cargo spacecraft missions if other countries also adopt this technology.

Previous Tianzhou spacecraft were also equipped with the quick rendezvous and docking function. The implementation of the fast docking of Tianzhou 5 indicates that the precision of China’s autonomous orbit determination technology has improved with the optimisation of the flight control process. China is trying to advance its technology with every spacecraft launch.

The innovative technology of Tianzhou 5 not only has practical utility, but also marks a significant milestone for China and the world in the field of aerospace.