China gears up to send the Tianzhou-8 cargo spacecraft into space
On Wednesday, the Tianzhou-8 cargo spacecraft and Long March-7 Y9 carrier rocket were transported vertically to the launch site.
TroibNews 
On Wednesday, the Tianzhou-8 cargo spacecraft, coupled with a Long March-7 Y9 carrier rocket, was vertically moved to the launching area.
According to the China Manned Space Agency, the cargo spacecraft is set for launch in the near future at a suitable time.
All facilities and equipment at the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in Hainan Province, southern China, are functioning well. Scheduled functional checks and joint tests will be conducted prior to the launch.
What is onboard Tianzhou-8?
The Tianzhou-8 cargo spacecraft will deliver supplies to China's Shenzhou-19 crew, who arrived at the space station on October 30, as well as to the Shenzhou-20 crew, aiding their life and work in orbit.
In addition to essential supplies, the cargo includes holiday gift packages for celebrations such as the Spring Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival, and Chinese Dragon Boat Festival, along with personalized birthday gifts for crew members to enjoy during their birthdays in space.
Moreover, Tianzhou-8 carries various equipment and materials for space science experiments, including "lunar soil bricks." These bricks are a potential construction material developed by Chinese scientists to simulate the composition of lunar soil for future habitat construction on the moon.
This space mission aims to test the mechanical and thermal properties of the bricks, as well as their resistance to cosmic radiation.
The initial brick sample is anticipated to return to Earth by the end of next year upon the completion of the space experiment.
Lucas Dupont contributed to this report for TROIB News
According to the China Manned Space Agency, the cargo spacecraft is set for launch in the near future at a suitable time.
All facilities and equipment at the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in Hainan Province, southern China, are functioning well. Scheduled functional checks and joint tests will be conducted prior to the launch.
What is onboard Tianzhou-8?
The Tianzhou-8 cargo spacecraft will deliver supplies to China's Shenzhou-19 crew, who arrived at the space station on October 30, as well as to the Shenzhou-20 crew, aiding their life and work in orbit.
In addition to essential supplies, the cargo includes holiday gift packages for celebrations such as the Spring Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival, and Chinese Dragon Boat Festival, along with personalized birthday gifts for crew members to enjoy during their birthdays in space.
Moreover, Tianzhou-8 carries various equipment and materials for space science experiments, including "lunar soil bricks." These bricks are a potential construction material developed by Chinese scientists to simulate the composition of lunar soil for future habitat construction on the moon.
This space mission aims to test the mechanical and thermal properties of the bricks, as well as their resistance to cosmic radiation.
The initial brick sample is anticipated to return to Earth by the end of next year upon the completion of the space experiment.
Lucas Dupont contributed to this report for TROIB News
