Early on July 15, 2025, China successfully launched the Tianzhou-9 cargo spacecraft from Wenchang in Hainan province. The Long March 7 rocket rose into the morning sky at 5:34 am, beginning its important journey. Just ten minutes after liftoff, the spacecraft smoothly separated from the rocket and entered Earth’s orbit. Its solar wings unfolded perfectly like silver bird feathers catching sunlight. By 8:52 am, Tianzhou-9 had completed its space journey by connecting securely with the Tianhe core module of China’s space station.
This special delivery brought exciting news for astronauts: over 1.5 tons of space food across 190 different varieties! The menu now includes 20 delicious new dishes like spicy Mapo Tofu, comforting Tomato and Eggs, and healthy Vegetable Mix. Creating space versions of these common meals required special scientific work. Researchers developed new methods to protect the food’s original taste, color, and nutrition during space travel. For fragile dishes like Mapo Tofu that easily break apart on Earth, scientists created special packaging techniques to keep them perfect for space dining.
Beyond satisfying hunger, Tianzhou-9 carried nearly 780 kg of scientific equipment for 23 important experiments. One study will examine how weightlessness affects human muscles, which naturally weaken in space despite making up 40% of our body weight. Another experiment uses tiny “brain chips” – smaller than a credit card – to study space’s effects on the human mind. These special chips contain living cells that copy real brain structures, helping scientists understand how space conditions might change brain function during long missions.
The cargo ship also delivered practical items: new spacewalk suits designed to last longer than previous models, exercise equipment to help astronauts stay strong, and fresh supplies for the crew living aboard the station. With nearly 6.5 tons of total supplies, this was the heaviest delivery ever made by a Tianzhou spacecraft.
Orbiting 400 kilometers above Earth, China’s Tiangong space station remains the only station independently operated by a single nation. Tianzhou-9’s successful mission marks another step forward in China’s space exploration journey, bringing both daily comforts and new scientific possibilities to the astronauts working among the stars.
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