Spacecraft starts flight tests

Impressive feat: China’s new large carrier rocket Long March 5B making its first flight at the Wenchang Space Launch Centre in Hainan province. — China Daily/ANN

BEIJING: China has begun flight-tests of its new-generation manned spacecraft that will serve the country’s future space station and lunar landings, according to the China Manned Space Agency.

The new spacecraft’s first prototype was lifted into low-Earth orbit by the maiden mission of China’s Long March 5B heavy-lift carrier rocket on Tuesday from the Wenchang Space Launch Center in Hainan province, the agency said.