China’s Tianzhou-9 cargo craft set for Tiangong space station resupply mission

China’s Tianzhou-9 cargo spacecraft is ready for launch to resupply the Tiangong Space Station, according to state news agency Xinhua on Saturday.

The cargo spacecraft and a Long March-7 Y10 carrier rocket had been transported to the launch pad at the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site on the southern island province of Hainan, Xinhua reported, citing the China Manned Space Agency.

“The cargo spacecraft will be launched in the near future at an appropriate time,” the space agency said.

It said functionality checks and joint tests would proceed as planned, adding that facilities and equipment at the launch site were “in good condition”.

According to state broadcaster CCTV, the cargo spacecraft will carry 6.5 tonnes of supplies, including consumables, propellants and equipment for medical and space technology experiments to be performed by astronauts on the Shenzhou-20 and Shenzhou-21 missions.

The supplies also include two sets of domestically developed spacesuits that can be used for 20 spacewalks over four years – an upgrade in lifespan from the previous three years and 15 spacewalks.

The astronauts will also receive a set of core muscle training devices designed to help counteract muscle atrophy in microgravity.