Tianzhou-1

The Tianzhou-1 cargo spacecraft has just completed its first docking with the Tiangong-2 space lab, realising China's first space delivery and in-space refuelling. This is a breakthrough in the use of the key technology of in-orbit propellant refuelling. I would like to extend my sincere congratulations on our country's achievements on behalf of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

The success of Tianzhou-1's mission marks the full completion of the space laboratory mission. We can now start to build our space station.

Extravehicular spacesuits will be essential equipment for long-duration space station mission in the future. Tianzhou-1's current mission will also provide the basis for designing extravehicular spacesuits to be used in future space stations, including mechanics and temperature data.

Tianzhou-1 is China's first self-developed cargo spacecraft and will be a means of transportation to and from the space station in the future. It can dispatch 6.5 tonnes of propellant and goods to the space station in each journey, including consumables, daily necessities, food and drink for the astronauts and the equipment required for the construction of the space station. Tianzhou-1 is the world's largest cargo spacecraft in service in terms of payload capacity.

Our country is developing rapidly and is constantly making breakthroughs in space technology. As Chinese, we feel proud of our country's achievements.

Incidentally, at my secondary school's annual alumni dinner last night, a primary school student gave me a card with a sticker of an astronaut on the envelope. He told me that he was particularly interested in space technology, and was also paying close attention to Tianzhou-1's mission. 

22 April, 2017