China successfully launches Wentian module as space station nears completion

Photo by Hou Yu/China News Service via Getty Images

The Wentian module was successfully launched to the space station. Wentian docked at the Tiangong space station about 13 hours after he took off on a Long March 5B rocket from the Chinese mainland.

The Wentian module has equipment that allows the Chinese astronauts to conduct scientific experiments on the station. The New York Times reported that the additional module will provide three extra spaces to sleep and another airlock that crew members can use to conduct spacewalks.

China sent a crew to prepare for Wentian's arrival. The station's third and final lab module will be launched in October. The final module will form a T-shaped structure once it is docked.

Now that Wentian has been delivered, there are some concerns about where the rocket will end up. This type of rocket doesn't fall into the ocean the way most rockets do. When it comes crashing down to Earth, it doesn't have a way to divert or control its movement, as Space News notes.

The rocket was blamed for the debris that ended up in Cte d'Ivoire. After delivering the core module to space, it descended into the Indian Ocean.