China’s Mengtian module

In news–China has recently launched a lab module called Mengtian or “Dreaming of the Heavens”, the last of the three modules that will comprise its space station.

What is the Mengtian module?

Scientific equipment in the Mengtian module will be used for studying microgravity and carrying out experiments in fluid physics, materials science, combustion science and fundamental physics.
Also, the Mengtian will carry the world’s first space-based set of cold atomic clocks consisting of a hydrogen clock, a rubidium clock and an optical clock.
It was launched by Long March-5B Y4, one of China’s biggest rockets from Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site on the coast of the southern island province of Hainan.
If successful, the cold atomic clocks will form the most precise time and frequency system in space, which should not lose one second in hundreds of millions of years.

China Space Station (CSS)-

The Tiangong space station consists of Tianhe, Mengtian and a module called Wentian.
The T-shaped Tiangong will host three astronauts for six months at a time, or six crew members for a brief time during crew handovers.
In April 2021, China began construction of its space station with the launch of the Tianhe module, the main living quarters for astronauts.
In July 2022 it launched Wentian, or “Quest for the Heavens”, a laboratory module where scientific experiments will be performed.
The significant feature of China’s under-construction space station is its two robotic arms, especially the long one over which the US has previously expressed concern over its ability to grab objects including satellites from space.
Once ready, China will be the only country to own a space station.
The International Space Station (ISS) of Russia is a collaborative project of several countries.
The Chinese-built “Celestial Palace”, as the space station is known at home, will also be an emblem of China’s growing clout and self-sufficiency in its space endeavours and a challenger to the United States in the domain.