The combination of the Tianzhou-8 cargo spacecraft and a Long March-7 Y9 carrier rocket was vertically transferred to the launching area on Wednesday.
The cargo spacecraft will be launched at an appropriate time from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in China's southern island province of Hainan in the coming days, according to the China Manned Space Agency.
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Tianzhou-8 cargo spacecraft, carrier rocket combination transfered to launching area
Tianzhou-8 cargo spacecraft, carrier rocket combination transfered to launching area
Tianzhou-8 cargo spacecraft, carrier rocket combination transfered to launching area
Tianzhou-8 cargo spacecraft, carrier rocket combination transfered to launching area
Following the vertical transfer, a series of tests will be carried out over the next two to three days. These tests will include coordination checks between the rocket and the launch pad, storage tank replacements, air tightness verifications, and other pre-launch preparations before the fuel filling and launching.
"This is our eighth Tianzhou cargo spacecraft mission. Our rockets have entered a maturity stage, as after continuous hard work, the rocket have achieved a 100-percent localization rate. After it arrives at the launch area, our work will revolve around all test and launch procedures scheduled for the launch day," said Zhou Hong, an employee of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.
Compared to its predecessors, Tianzhou-6 and Tianzhou-7, the Tianzhou-8 cargo spacecraft boasts a larger cargo capacity -- an increase of more than 200 more liters of space and more than 100 kilograms of cargo load.
Alongside astronaut supplies and experimental facilities, the Tianzhou-8 cargo spacecraft will carry bricks made of varying compositions from lunar soil simulant to the Tiangong space station. These bricks will undergo exposure tests to assess their durability in extreme conditions and their potential use in constructing lunar bases.
Tianzhou-8 cargo spacecraft, carrier rocket combination transfered to launching area
Tianzhou-8 cargo spacecraft, carrier rocket combination transfered to launching area
Tianzhou-8 cargo spacecraft, carrier rocket combination transfered to launching area
Tianzhou-8 cargo spacecraft, carrier rocket combination transfered to launching area
Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said on Friday that Tehran will prepare the draft of a possible nuclear deal with the United States within two to three days, while U.S. President Donald Trump said he is contemplating a limited military strike on Iran.
In an interview with MSNBC while elaborating on indirect nuclear talks between Iran and the United States and ways to bridge differences on the nuclear issue, Araghchi said, "My next step is to present the draft of a potential deal to my U.S. counterparts," noting that the draft will be ready in the next two to three days.
The draft, once finalized by his superiors, will be delivered to U.S. president's special envoy Steve Witkoff, he said, adding that the two sides "may need another round of discussion before starting work toward, hopefully, a good conclusion."
During the second round of indirect talks on Tuesday, Araghchi said, Iran has not offered to suspend uranium enrichment on its soil, and the U.S. side has not put forward such a demand.
"I have to emphasize that there is no military solution to Iran's nuclear program," he said, adding, "The only solution is diplomacy and that is why the United States is back to the negotiating table and seeking a deal."
He added that Iran is ready both for war and peace, noting, "We are prepared for diplomacy and negotiation as much as we are ready for war."
Later in the day, Trump said that he is considering a limited military strike to pressure Iran to make a deal. "I guess I can say I am considering that," Trump told reporters at the White House.
The latest developments come as Iran and the United States hope to resolve a range of differences through negotiations, including issues related to uranium enrichment, long-range missiles, and sanctions.
With the two countries having completed two rounds of talks, Trump said Thursday that Iran has 10 to 15 days to reach a deal on its nuclear program, or "really bad things" will happen.
Meanwhile, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman Effie Defrin said Friday that the military is on high alert and monitoring developments on all fronts.
He added that there have been no changes to the military's guidelines for the Israeli public and urged the public to pay close attention to the latest official announcements.
Tensions between the United States and Iran have been escalating for months. Both sides have stepped up their military preparations for a potential conflict. Last week, Trump announced the deployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford, the world's largest aircraft carrier, to the Middle East to reinforce the USS Abraham Lincoln and its accompanying guided-missile destroyers, already in the region.
Iran to prepare nuclear deal draft in days as Trump 'considering' limited military strike
