News
Shenzhou-14 astronauts enter Wentian lab module
By YuJianbin, People’s Daily
At 10:03 a.m. on July 25 (Beijing Time), the Shenzhou-14 astronauts opened the hatch door of Wentian, the first lab module of China’s space station, and entered the module. It was the first time the Chinese astronauts had entered the lab module in orbit.
The Wentian module was launched on July 24. As the first lab module of China’s space station and an important part of China’s national space laboratory, it provides bigger work and living space for astronauts in orbit, as well as a larger platform for space science studies.
The Wentian module is 17.9 meters long, has a maximum diameter of 4.2 meters, and a takeoff mass of 23 tons. It istaller, bigger and heavier than the core module Tianhe, making it the world’s heaviest self-propelled spaceship in service.
The Wentian module consists of a work cabin, an airlock cabin and a resource cabin. It is equipped with the same astronaut living facilities as the Tianhe core module, including three sleeping areas, a toilet and a kitchen. Together, Wentian and Tianhe can accommodate six astronauts during the rotations of two spacecraft crews. In the future, live classes from China’s space station will be given in the Wentian module.
Besides, the Wentian module is equipped with parts of the living facilities and work supplies needed by astronauts, including a whole set of kitchen equipment. It means that together with the one in the core module Tianhe, there are now two kitchens in the space station, which has largely facilitated the livesof the astronauts in space.
The Wentian module comes with the same charging equipment as the Tianhe core module, so that astronauts can use mobile phones, tablets and other portable electronic devices in space. The charging equipment, similar to the power adapters used on the ground, hassignificantly enhanced the space station’s charging capability for portable electronic devices.
The airlock cabin can be used for the storage and inspection of extravehicular spacesuits, as well as astronaut training. The spacious cabin will allow astronauts to put on and take off their extravehicular spacesuits and operate the equipment more easily.
Upon receiving the Wentian module at the space station, the Shenzhou-14 crew has activated the life-support system in the module and completed the installation of scientific equipment to carry out experiments in orbit.
The construction of China’s national space laboratory will be completed after the third module Mengtian is sent to space. The laboratory will be used for long-term, multi-area and large-scale space science studies.
LyuCongmin, a research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Sciences and deputy chief designer of the space utilization system of China Manned Space, introduced that the Wentian lab mainly focuses on the study of life sciences and biotechnology, and researchers have planned and deployed research topics for Wentian in the four fields of space life science and biotechnology, microgravity fluid physics, space material science, and new space application technologies.
The experiments will provide a theoretical basis for human health and reproductive development, and explore a series of scientific issues concerning human beings’ long-term survival in space.
Researchers have installed in Wentian a life ecology experiment cabinet, a biotechnology experiment cabinet, a science glovebox, a cryogenic storage cabinet, a variable gravity experiment cabinet, as well as common support equipment for application tasks both inside and outside the spacecraft.
Scientific experiments will be carried out in the life ecology experiment cabinet and biotechnology experiment cabinet, while the science glovebox and cryogenic storage cabinet will provide clean and confined space for astronauts to conduct experiments on the samples safely and efficiently. The cryogenic storage device offers storage areas.
The life ecology experiment cabinet will take biological samples from a variety of species, and carry out space growth experiments on plants and animals like Arabidopsis, nematodes, fruit flies and zebrafish. Lyu introducedthat the experiments will help reveal the effects of the microgravity on the growth, development and metabolism of plants and animals, and will also help develop human understanding of the essence of life.
An energy particle detector and a plasma in-situ imaging detector are deployed outside the Wentian module to collect environment data in space, which will support both the health of the astronauts and the safe operation of the space station, as well asfor the basic research in space environment.
The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to maintain the status quo in a dispute over the party’s candidates emerging from the Benue State APC primaries for the 2027 general election.
The order was made on Thursday by Justice Inyang Ekwo during proceedings in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1429/2026, filed by Engr. Sesugh Akaagba and other aggrieved APC candidates from Benue State against the APC and INEC.
The plaintiffs had, through an ex parte motion filed on July 5, 2026, sought six interim reliefs, including an order restraining the APC from substituting its validly nominated candidates in Benue State through its June 29, 2026 correspondence, or any subsequent communication, to INEC, pending determination of the substantive suit.
They also sought an order compelling the APC to immediately transmit to INEC the names of candidates validly nominated during the primaries monitored by the electoral commission.
When the matter first came up on July 8, 2026, the court declined to grant the interim application immediately, directing both APC and INEC to appear and respond before any decision was taken. The matter was adjourned to July 16.
At Thursday’s proceedings, counsel representing the APC and INEC were present in court, while the plaintiffs were represented by Mohammed Ndarani, SAN, alongside his legal team.
In his ruling, Justice Ekwo held that since issues had been joined by the parties particularly with INEC now before the court, the defendants were required by law to preserve the subject matter of the litigation pending determination of the substantive suit.
When counsel to the plaintiffs urged the court to caution APC and INEC against taking any further action that could affect the disputed list of candidates, the judge responded that it was “not a matter of advice but of law,” stressing that the defendants were bound to maintain the status quo.
The court consequently restrained APC and INEC from taking any action capable of altering the disputed list of candidates pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.
The defendants did not object to the restraining order.
At the commencement of proceedings, the court noted that all parties had voluntarily submitted to its jurisdiction by duly filing and exchanging their respective processes.
It held that there was no procedural or jurisdictional impediment to the expeditious determination of the substantive action, and directed that the matter be heard without further delay.
In furtherance of the objective of preserving the res and safeguarding the efficacy of the judicial process, the court ordered all parties to maintain the status quo pending the hearing and final determination of the substantive suit, restraining any act or omission capable of prejudicing the rights of the parties or rendering the proceedings nugatory.
The court further directed that INEC be served forthwith with the originating and all consequential processes.
The effect of the subsisting order is that INEC is restrained from tampering with the existing list of candidates pending final determination of the suit, and from receiving, recognising, or acting upon any purported substituted list of National Assembly candidates from Benue State submitted by the APC.
The matter was adjourned to July 21, 2026, for hearing of the substantive suit.
Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and former First Lady Patience Ibifaka Jonathan recently celebrated a significant family milestone as they attended the graduation ceremony of their son, Ariara Goodluck Jonathan, at Manchester Metropolitan University in the United Kingdom.
The proud parents joined family members and well-wishers to witness Ariara receive his degree, marking the successful completion of his academic programme. The occasion was filled with joy as the Jonathan family commemorated the achievement, highlighting the importance they place on education and personal development.
The graduation ceremony attracted warm congratulatory messages from friends, associates, and admirers, who wished the graduate continued success in his future endeavours.
The Following names joined the political family of Sen. Dr. George Akume today after leaving the sinking Alia ship .
Under the leadership of Barr. Emmanuel Jime .
The are ;
Chief Nelson Alapa
Douglas pepe SAN senatorial Aspirant zone A,
Engr Peter Ashiekaa
QS Clement Beetseh
Former commissioners
Joy Luga
Ann itodo
Barr martins Shaagee
Miss Dorcas
Prof Usar Joseh
Prof Cephas Tushima
Chief Patrick Idoko
Hon Patience Akor
Hon Fred Idoko
Hon Lawrence Ekpo Onoja Jnr
Hon Andrew Abah
Hon Agbo Innocent Ikwumonu
Hon Simon Omachoko
Hon David Egboja
Dr John Garba
Among together,
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