Shenzhou-14 taikonauts enter Wentian lab module

The Shenzhou-14 crew entered the Wentian lab module at 10:03 a.m. BJT on Monday, the China Manned Space Engineering Office (CMSEO) announced, marking the first time that Chinese astronauts have entered a lab module in-orbit.

According to the plan, China will carry out in-orbit works, such as integrated attitude control of the space station and tests on Wentian's small robotic arm as well as the larger robotic arm on the core module.

Extravehicular activities supported by Wentian's airlock module and the small arm will also be conducted.

The Shenzhou-14 taikonauts are scheduled to give another space lecture from the Wentian lab module.

Launched on Sunday afternoon, Wentian docked with the front port of the Tianhe core module of China's space station at 3:13 a.m. Monday (Beijing Time) after it entered the planned orbit and completed state setting.

It is the first time that China's two 20-tonne-level spacecraft conducted rendezvous and docking in orbit, and also the first time that space rendezvous and docking were carried out during the astronauts' in-orbit stay in the space station, the CMSEO said.

(CGTN)