The recently launched core module of China's Tiangong space station has entered the planned rendezvous orbit. The China Manned Space Agency said the module is now preparing to dock with Tianzhou-2 cargo spaceship that's scheduled to be launched this week.

The agency said in a statement on May 18 that the core module named Tianhe, or Harmony of Heavens, has carried out a series of tests to verify its designs for rendezvous, docking operations, astronaut accommodation and experimental equipment. It said everything is in good shape. On the evening of May 17 Beijing time, the Tianhe core capsule was observed flying over the moon.