In space - April 22, 2017
++SOURCE: China Central Television (CCTV)++
1. Screens showing Tianzhou-1 (Left) and Tiangong-2
2. Screens showing Tianzhou-1 (Left) and Tiangong-2
3. Tianzhou-1 moving, docking with Tiangong-2 ++4:3++
4. Various of supplies loaded on Tianzhou-1

Wenchang, Hainan Province, south China - Recent
++SOURCE: China Global Television Network (CGTN)++
5. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Wang Jianshe, deputy director, Scientific and Technological Commission, China Academy of Aerospace Propulsion Technology (ending with shot 6):
"We have contingency plans for various malfunction emergencies while designing the refueling system. The system is able to detect a leak during refueling."
6. Animation showing refueling system working amid docking of Tianzhou-1 cargo spacecraft, Tiangong-2 space lab

Beijing, China - April 22, 2017
++SOURCE: China Central Television (CCTV)++
7. Animation showing Tianzhou-1 having docked with Tiangong-2 ++4:3++
8. Screens showing Tianzhou-1 (Left) and Tiangong-2

Wenchang, Hainan Province, south China - Recent
++SOURCE: China Global Television Network (CGTN)++
9. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Wang Jianshe, deputy director, Scientific and Technological Commission, China Academy of Aerospace Propulsion Technology (ending with shot 10):
"Refueling will be of great significance, because we must achieve this breakthrough in the technology [of refueling in orbit], which belongs to the third phase of China's manned space program."
10. Animation showing Tianzhou-1, Tiangong-2, orbiting around Earth

++MUTE++
11. Tianzhou-1, Tiangong-2 orbiting around Earth after docking

China has its contingency plans ready for its first refueling in orbit by cargo spacecraft Tianzhou-1 to Tiangong-2 space lab; that's according to an official with the China Academy of Aerospace Propulsion Technology in an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN).

China's first cargo spacecraft Tianzhou-1 on April 23 started refueling Tiangong-2 in orbit, after it docked with the space lab the previous day.

"We have contingency plans for various malfunction emergencies while designing the refueling system. The system is able to detect a leak during refueling," said Wang Jianshe, deputy director of the Scientific and Technological Commission with the China Academy of Aerospace Propulsion Technology.

In the event of a propellant leak during the process of refueling, the system is designed to locate its position immediately and isolate the leak. Refueling then continues, according to Wang.

Tianzhou-1 will dock with Tiangong-2 three times to test a refueling technique for the country's planned space station.

The refueling procedure takes 29 steps to complete and lasts for several days each time.

If the refueling operation turns out successful, China will become the third country besides Russia and the United States to master the technique of refueling in space.

"Refueling will be of great significance, because we must achieve this breakthrough in the technology [of refueling in orbit], which belongs to the third phase of China's manned space program," said the deputy director.

In-orbit refueling will enable and guarantee long-term operation of a future space station, Wang added.

China aims to build a permanent space station that is expected to orbit for at least 10 years. Without a cargo transportation system complete with in-orbit refueling, the station would run out of power and basic necessities.