Tianzhou 1, China's first cargo spacecraft, has completed the country's first in-orbit refueling test with the unmanned Tiangong II space laboratory, the China Manned Space Agency said on Thursday.

Zhang Youxia, commander-in-chief of China's manned space program, called the Tianzhou 1 mission a success.

The space agency said in a news release the refueling test was a major technology breakthrough and has paved the way for China to assemble and operate a space station.