Having previously docked on 31 October 2022, on 3 November 2022 the Mengtian laboratory module has successfully finished transposition from axial to radial port of Chinese Space Station (CSS) via a robot arm. The station is now in its full T configuration. While the uncontrolled re-entry of the Long March 5B upper stage used to launch Mengtian again caused consternation, for a time holding up airline flights in the Iberian peninsular, in the end it safely took place at 1001 GMT on 4 November over the Pacific. Finally, on 9 November at 0655 GMT Tianzhou-4 undocked from the now-completed Tiangong space station ahead of its deorbiting.
Artist’s impression of what eventual configuration of Chinese Space Station will look like. Courtesy: CMSEO
