2nd LD-Writethru: Reentry module aboard Long March-7 retrieved

A reentry module aboard carrier rocket Long March-7, which was launched on Saturday, was successfully recovered on Sunday, a move paving the way for technological breakthroughs in China's future manned spacecraft.

According to officials in charge of the country'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 reentry module weighing about 2,600 kilograms spent about 20 hours in orbit.

In addition to laying a solid foundation for technological breakthroughs in designing future manned spacecraft, the recovery of the reentry module also means the Long March-7 has fulfilled all the objectives of its maiden flight, according to the officials.

In a message congratulating on the success of the mission, the Communist Party of China Central Committee, the State Council and the Central Military Commission said the move marks the nation's improved capability in entering the space.

The success will encourage people of all ethnic groups and military officers and soldiers in the process of realizing the Chinese dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and building a strong army, the message read.

As China's new generation of carrier rocket, Long March-7 was launched from the Wenchang space launch center in south China's Hainan Province. The launch is the first at the Wenchang site, and the 230th of China's Long March carrier rocket family.

Tang Yagang, an official with China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, told Xinhua in an exclusive interview that the mission tested the core technologies of future manned spacecraft in orbit.

According to Tang, who works for the Long March-7 project, future reentry modules would be able to stay longer in orbit and carry more people. Endi