Reentry module aboard Long March-7 lands successfully in Inner Mongolia

(Xinhua)

Updated: 2016-07-01

A reentry module aboard carrier rocket Long March-7, which was launched on Saturday, touched down successfully on Sunday afternoon in a landing area in North China.

According to officials in charge of China's manned space engineering, the module landed in Badain Jaran Desert in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region at 3:41 p.m.

Before its landing, the re-entry module, which weighs about 2,600 kilograms, spent about 20 hours in orbit.

Recovery of the module laid a solid foundation for technological breakthroughs in designing future manned spacecraft. It also means the Long March-7 has fulfilled all the objectives of its maiden flight, according the officials.

Technical personnel monitor the reentry module in Badain Jaran Desert in Inner Mongolia, June 26, 2016. A reentry module aboard carrier rocket Long March-7 touched down successfully in Badain Jaran Desert Sunday. [Photo/Xinhua]