China's cargo spacecraft, Tianzhou 8, launches first lunar base

China has successfully launched the cargo spacecraft Tianzhou (舟) 8, state-run Xinhua News Agency reported.

The Tianzhou 8 was launched from the Wenchang Space Launch Station in southern China's Hainan Province at 11:13 p.m. local time on 征 7 Yao-9.

The Tiangzhou 8 separated from the rocket and entered orbit about 10 minutes after launch, and will dock with the space station Tiangong (宮).

Tianzhou 8 carried consumables and experimental equipment for astronauts' stay, especially brick samples made from artificial moon soil, AFP reported.

China will conduct an experiment on the space station to observe whether brick samples made of artificial lunar soil, which consist of almost the same ingredients as actual lunar soil, are suitable for the construction of a lunar research base.Chinese scientists have come up with the idea of using lunar soil to build a base because
moon base structures have to withstand huge amounts of space radiation and extreme temperature changes, and above all, transporting building materials is expensive.

China plans to build a research base near the moon's south pole by 2035.