Accompanying satellite sends back images of Tiangong II, Shenzhou XI

The image sent back by an accompanying satellite shows Tiangong II (top) and Shenzhou XI (bottom) in space on Oct 23, 2016. [Photo/IC]

An accompanying satellite launched from space lab Tiangong II on Sunday at 7:31 am has sent back images of the space lab and spacecraft Shenzhou XI.

The satellite, which weighs 47 kilograms and is the size of a printer, was launched into space aboard Tiangong II on Sept 15, said the Technology and Engineering Center for Space Utilization under the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Lyu Congmin, a scientist with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said that this image was taken by the satellite at a distance of some 29 meters from Tiangong II and Shenzhou XI.