What Will Tianzhou-8 Deliver to China's Space Station?
What can we expect Tianzhou-8 to bring to China's space station?
TroibNews 
The Tianzhou-8 cargo spaceship is scheduled for launch from China's Wenchang Spacecraft launch site at 11:13 p.m. Beijing time on Friday. This mission aims to deliver essential living and working supplies for the newly arrived Shenzhou-19 crew, as well as for the subsequent crew at the China Space Station. What exactly is included in the six tonnes of cargo?
**Fruits, holiday gifts, lunar soil bricks**
The Tianzhou-8 spacecraft is set to carry around six tonnes of supplies that cater to the daily needs of both the Shenzhou-19 and Shenzhou-20 astronaut crews. It will also facilitate the transport of fresh fruits and vegetables within a 24-hour timeframe. In addition, gift packages for upcoming celebrations such as the Spring Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival, along with personalized birthday presents, have been prepared for the astronauts.
Furthermore, the mission will transport 458 kilograms of scientific experiment materials to support 36 experiments in various fields, including space life and biotechnology, materials science, and microgravity fluid physics. Notably, seven of these life science experiments will require sample preparation and last-minute installation at the launch site.
A significant highlight of this mission is the inclusion of "lunar soil bricks," made from simulated lunar soil, marking their inaugural transport by the Tianzhou-8 spacecraft. These bricks will be subjected to exposure experiments aboard the space station to assess their mechanical, thermal, and radiation resistance properties, ultimately contributing valuable data for future lunar base construction.
**New crew ready to work**
The Shenzhou-19 crew, consisting of three astronauts, has been stationed at the space station since October 30. They have had a five-day overlap with the Shenzhou-18 crew to facilitate handovers and material transfers among other responsibilities.
Following the return of Shenzhou-18 to Earth, the Shenzhou-19 astronauts moved into routine operations. This includes unloading leftover supplies from Tianzhou-7, disposing of waste back to Tianzhou-7, and conducting comprehensive maintenance checks to ensure the station's stability.
Jessica Kline for TROIB News
**Fruits, holiday gifts, lunar soil bricks**
The Tianzhou-8 spacecraft is set to carry around six tonnes of supplies that cater to the daily needs of both the Shenzhou-19 and Shenzhou-20 astronaut crews. It will also facilitate the transport of fresh fruits and vegetables within a 24-hour timeframe. In addition, gift packages for upcoming celebrations such as the Spring Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival, along with personalized birthday presents, have been prepared for the astronauts.
Furthermore, the mission will transport 458 kilograms of scientific experiment materials to support 36 experiments in various fields, including space life and biotechnology, materials science, and microgravity fluid physics. Notably, seven of these life science experiments will require sample preparation and last-minute installation at the launch site.
A significant highlight of this mission is the inclusion of "lunar soil bricks," made from simulated lunar soil, marking their inaugural transport by the Tianzhou-8 spacecraft. These bricks will be subjected to exposure experiments aboard the space station to assess their mechanical, thermal, and radiation resistance properties, ultimately contributing valuable data for future lunar base construction.
**New crew ready to work**
The Shenzhou-19 crew, consisting of three astronauts, has been stationed at the space station since October 30. They have had a five-day overlap with the Shenzhou-18 crew to facilitate handovers and material transfers among other responsibilities.
Following the return of Shenzhou-18 to Earth, the Shenzhou-19 astronauts moved into routine operations. This includes unloading leftover supplies from Tianzhou-7, disposing of waste back to Tianzhou-7, and conducting comprehensive maintenance checks to ensure the station's stability.
Jessica Kline for TROIB News
