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Tiangong space station
Chinese space station (2021–present) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Tiangong space station (Chinese: 天宫空间站; pinyin: Tiāngōng kōngjiānzhàn; lit. 'Heavenly Palace space station'),[5][6] is a permanently crewed space station constructed by China and operated by China Manned Space Agency.[7] Tiangong is a modular design, with modules docked together while in low Earth orbit, between 340 and 450 km (210 and 280 mi) above the surface. It is China's first long-term space station, part of the Tiangong program and the core of the "Third Step" of the China Manned Space Program; it has a pressurised volume of 340 m3 (12,000 ft3), slightly over one third the size of the International Space Station. The space station aims to provide opportunities for space-based experiments and a platform for building capacity for scientific and technological innovation.[8]
The construction of the station is based on the experience gained from its precursors, Tiangong-1 and Tiangong-2.[9][10][11] The first module, the Tianhe core module, was launched on 29 April 2021.[12][6] This was followed by multiple crewed and uncrewed missions and the addition of two laboratory modules. The first, Wentian, launched on 24 July 2022; the second, Mengtian, launched on 31 October 2022.[9]
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Nomenclature
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Early names used in the Chinese space program were largely drawn from the revolutionary history of the People's Republic of China. In recent decades, these have been replaced by names with mythological or religious connotations. Examples include the Shenzhou (神舟; Shénzhōu; 'Divine Vessel') crewed spacecraft,[13] the Shenlong (神龙; Shénlóng; 'Divine Dragon') spaceplane,[14] the Shenguang (神光; Shénguāng; 'Divine Light') high-power laser,[15] and the Shenwei (神威; Shénwēi; 'Divine Might') supercomputer.[16]
These mythological names continue in the Chinese Lunar Exploration Program, whose probes are named Chang'e after the Moon goddess.[17] The name Tiangong was similarly reported to evoke cultural and romantic imagery, with the launch of Tiangong-1 inspiring public expressions such as love poetry, and media comparing the docking of spacecraft to the reunion of the cowherd and the weaver girl from folklore.[18]
In 2011, Wang Wenbao, director of the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA), stated that the agency sought names that would "carry a resounding and encouraging" message and reflect public participation in the program.[17][19][20]
On 31 October 2013, CMSA announced standardized names for space station elements:[10]
- Tiangong would refer to both the precursor space labs—Tiangong-1 (2011) and Tiangong-2 (2016)—and the modular space station.[21]
- Tianzhou (天舟; Tiān Zhōu; 'Heavenly Ship') for the cargo spacecraft
- Tianhe (天和; Tiān Hé; 'Harmony of the Heavens') for the core module of the modular space station, launched on 29 April 2021.[22][23][24]
- Wentian (问天; Wèn Tiān; 'Quest for the Heavens') for the first laboratory module of the modular space station, launched on 24 July 2022.[25][26][23]
- Mengtian (梦天; Mèng Tiān; 'Dreaming of the Heavens') for the second laboratory module of the modular space station, launched on 31 October 2022.[25][27][23]
- Xuntian (巡天; Xún Tiān; 'Touring the Heavens') for the co-orbiting space telescope module, scheduled for launch in 2026.[28]
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Purpose and mission
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According to CMSA, which operates the space station, the purpose and mission of Tiangong is to develop and gain experience in spacecraft rendezvous technology, permanent human operations in orbit, long-term autonomous spaceflight of the space station, regenerative life support technology and autonomous cargo and fuel supply technology. It will also serve the platform for the next-generation orbit transportation vehicles, scientific and practical applications at large-scale in orbit, and technology for future deep space exploration.[29][30][31]
CMSA also encourages commercial activities led by the private sector and hopes their involvement could bring cost-effective aerospace innovations.[32] Space tourism aboard the station is also being considered.[33]
Scientific research
The space station will have 23 experimental racks in an enclosed, pressurised environment. There will also be platforms for exposed experiments; 22 and 30 on the Wentian and Mengtian laboratory modules, respectively.[34] Over 1,000 experiments are tentatively approved by CMSA,[35] and scheduled to be conducted on the space station.[36]
Agriculture in microgravity was explored with cultivation of rice and Arabidopsis thaliana as sustainable food sources for long-term spaceflight.[37]
The programmed experiment equipment racks for the three modules as of June 2016 were:[11]
- Space life sciences and biotechnology
- Ecology Science Experiment Rack (ESER)
- Biotechnology Experiment Rack (BER)
- Science Glove-box and Refrigerator Rack (SGRR)
- Microgravity fluid physics and combustion
- Fluids Physics Experiment Rack (FPER)
- Two-phase System Experiment Rack (TSER)
- Combustion Experiment Rack (CER)
- Material science in space
- Material Furnace Experiment Rack (MFER)
- Container-less Material Experiment Rack (CMER)
- Fundamental Physics in Microgravity
- Cold Atom Experiment Rack (CAER)
- High-precision Time-Frequency Rack (HTFR)
- Multipurpose Facilities
- High Micro-gravity Level Rack (HMGR)
- Varying-Gravity Experiment Rack (VGER)
- Modularized Experiment Rack (RACK)
Education and cultural outreach
The space station features space lectures and popular science experiments to educate, motivate and inspire the younger Chinese generation and world audience in science and technology. Each lecture is concluded with a question-and-answer session with school children's questions from classrooms across China.[38] The first and second Tiangong space lesson was conducted in December 2021 and March 2022, as a part of the Shenzhou 13 mission.[39][40] This tradition continued with the Shenzhou 14.[41]
The CSSARC is the Amateur Radio payload for the Chinese Space Station, proposed by the Chinese Radio Amateurs Club (CRAC), Aerospace System Engineering Research Institute of Shanghai (ASES) and Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT). The payload will provide resources for radio amateurs worldwide to contact onboard astronauts or communicate with each other, aim to inspire students to take interests and careers in science, technology, engineering, and math, and encourage more people to get interested in amateur radio.[42][43]
The first phase of the payload is capable of providing the following functions utilising the VHF/UHF amateur radio band:
- V/V or U/U crew voice
- V/U or U/V FM repeater
- V/V or U/U 1k2 AFSK digipeater
- V/V or U/U SSTV or digital image
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Structure
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Tiangong is a third-generation modular space station. First-generation stations, such as the early Salyut and Almaz stations and Skylab, were single-module outposts that were not designed for resupply. Second-generation stations, including Salyut 6 and 7 and Tiangong 1 and 2, incorporated docking ports that enabled mid-mission resupply. Third-generation stations, such as Mir and the International Space Station, are modular complexes assembled in orbit from multiple components launched separately. Modular design can improve reliability, reduce costs, shorten development cycles, and support more diverse mission requirements.[9]
Below is a diagram of major station components.
Key to box background colors:
- Pressurised component, accessible by the crew without using spacesuits
- Docking/berthing port, pressurized when a visiting spacecraft is present
- Airlock, to move people or material between pressurized and unpressurized environment
- Unpressurised component
| Wentian robotic arm | Chinarm robotic arm | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Solar array | Solar array | Docking port (aft) | Solar array | Solar array | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wentian laboratory | Tianhe core module | Mengtian laboratory | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Solar array | EVA hatch (zenith) | Docking port (forward) | Docking port (nadir) | Solar array | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| EVA airlock | Cargo airlock | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Modules
Tiangong was completed in a three-module configuration in 2022. China has proposed several expansion concepts. Initial proposals called for enlarging the station to six modules by duplicating the original trio,[44] but by 2023 this evolved into a plan to add a fourth module with six docking ports to accommodate future growth.[45] In October 2023, China announced a revised roadmap to expand Tiangong to six modules beginning in 2027.[46]
The Tianhe core module provides life support and living quarters for three crew members and houses the station’s guidance, navigation, and orientation control systems. It also contains the main power, propulsion, and environmental control systems. Tianhe is divided into three sections: living quarters, a service module, and a docking hub. The living area includes a kitchen, toilet, fire suppression equipment, atmospheric control systems, computers, scientific apparatus, and communications equipment for contact with ground control in Beijing. Tianhe also carries the Chinarm, a larger manipulator arm used for EVA support and as a backup for module relocation. A full-scale mockup of Tianhe was displayed at the China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai in 2018.[47] CMSA videos have shown that two core modules have been constructed.[citation needed]
The first of the two Laboratory Cabin Modules (LCMs), Wentian, provides additional avionics, propulsion, and life-support capacity as backups to Tianhe.[48] It includes three short-term crew quarters for use during handovers[49] and features a dedicated airlock for extravehicular activities (EVAs), replacing the temporary use of Tianhe’s docking hub, which was not purpose-built for that function.[50] Wentian carries internal experiment racks and 22 external experiment adapters.[51] It was launched and docked with Tianhe on 24 July 2022[52] and moved to its permanent starboard position on 30 September.[53]
The second LCM, Mengtian, provides expanded in-orbit experiment capability with 13 internal experiment racks and 37 external experiment adapters.[54] It also features a dedicated cargo airlock designed specifically for transferring scientific payloads between the station interior and exterior.[55][56] Mengtian was launched and docked with Tianhe on 31 October 2022[57] and moved to its permanent port-side position on 3 November.[58]
Together, the two LCMs support microgravity and freefall research that cannot be conducted on Earth for extended periods. Experiments can also be mounted externally for exposure to the space environment, including cosmic radiation, vacuum, and the solar wind.[57] Wentian focuses primarily on life sciences, while Mengtian is oriented toward microgravity research.[55]
Both LCMs are equipped with rendezvous hardware for automated docking to the forward port of Tianhe. After docking and inspections, the indexing robotic arms mounted on Wentian and Mengtian—similar in function to the Lyappa arm used on Mir—were used to relocate Wentian to the starboard port and Mengtian to the port-side port.[59] The Chinarm on Tianhe can also serve as a backup for module relocation.[60][61]
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Systems
Communication
Real-time communications, including live audio and video links, are provided by the Tianlian II series of data relay satellites. A constellation of three satellites was launched into geostationary orbits, providing communication and data support for the station.[65]
Docking
Tiangong is equipped with the Chinese Docking Mechanism, first used by Shenzhou 8 spacecraft and the Tiangong-1 space laboratory.[66][67] This system is based on the APAS-89/APAS-95 developed by Russia and NASA. While NASA has described it as a "clone" of APAS,[68] there are conflicting claims about its compatibility with current and future docking mechanisms on the ISS, which are also APAS-based.[67][69][70] The mechanism features a circular transfer passage with a diameter of 800 millimetres (31 in).[71][72] The androgynous variant weighs 310 kg (680 lb), while the non-androgynous version weighs 200 kg (440 lb).[73]
Power supply
Electrical power is provided by two steerable flexible solar arrays on each module, using gallium arsenide photovoltaic cells to convert sunlight into electricity. Energy is stored for use when the station passes through Earth’s shadow. Resupply spacecraft replenish fuel for propulsion engines, which maintain orbit and counter atmospheric drag. The solar arrays are designed to last up to 15 years.[74]
Propulsion and attitude control
Tiangong uses conventional chemical engines and ion thrusters for orbital adjustments and station-keeping.
The Tianhe core module is equipped with four Hall-effect thrusters, the first ever used on a crewed spacecraft.[75][76] These thrusters are far more efficient than traditional engines, cutting fuel use by 90%. Ground tests showed the system can run for more than 8,000 hours without failure, supporting Tiangong’s planned 15-year lifespan. Magnetic shielding and advanced ceramics protect the engines and module from erosion caused by high-speed ion particles.[77]
For attitude control, Tiangong relies mainly on 12 control moment gyroscopes, which allow precise orientation without burning fuel, saving propellant and extending the station’s life. They provide high pointing accuracy—better than 0.1°—for Earth observation and scientific experiments. This system also keeps the station stable during reboost maneuvers by visiting cargo ships.[78][79]
Robotic arms
The Tiangong space station features five robotic arms. The largest is a 10-metre-long (33 ft) arm, nicknamed Chinarm, mounted on the Tianhe core module. Its function is similar to the Canadarm2 on the International Space Station.[80]
The Wentian module is equipped with a 5-metre-long (16 ft) arm that is five times more precise in positioning than the Chinarm. This arm is primarily used to transfer experiments and other hardware outside the station during astronaut EVAs. A dual-arm connector on Chinarm allows it to link with the Wentian arm, extending its reach and increasing its weight-handling capacity.[81]
The Mengtian module carries a payload release mechanism designed to assist with experiment transfers.[55][56] Its robotic arm can retrieve experiments from the cargo airlock and install them onto the module’s exterior.[82] It can also be used to deploy microsatellites.[56][83]
Two indexing robotic arms are installed near the docking ports of the two laboratory modules. These arms were used to relocate the modules from their initial docking port to their final positions, similar in function to the Lyappa arm on the Mir space station.[59][60][84]
Co-orbit modules
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Construction
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Planning
In 2011, it was announced that the future space station was planned to be assembled from 2020 to 2022.[87] By 2013, the space station's core module was planned to be launched earlier, in 2018, followed by the first laboratory module in 2020, and a second in 2022.[88] By 2018, it was reported that this had slipped to 2020–2023.[89][90] In February 2020, a total of 11 launches were planned for the whole construction phase, beginning in 2021.[91][92] In 2021, it was reported China National Space Administration planned to complete the construction of the space station in 2022.[93]
Tiangong modules are self-contained and pre-assembled, in contrast to the US Orbital Segment of the ISS, which required spacewalking to interconnect cables, piping, and structural elements manually. The assembly method of the station can be compared with the Soviet-Russian Mir space station and the Russian orbital segment of the International Space Station, making China the second nation to develop and use automatic rendezvous and docking for modular space station construction. The technologies in the construction are derived from decades of Chinese crewed spaceflight experiences, including those gained from Tiangong-1 and Tiangong-2 prototypes,[94] as well as the purchase of aerospace technology from Russia in the early 1990s.[95] A representative of the Chinese crewed space program stated that around 2000, China and Russia were engaged in technological exchanges regarding the development of a docking mechanism used for space stations.[96] Deputy Chief Designer, Huang Weifen, stated that near the end of 2009, China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) began to train astronauts on how to dock spacecraft.[97]
In accordance to the plan, by the end of 2022, the fully assembled Tiangong space station had three 22 metric-ton modules in a basic T-shape.[98][99] Because of the modular design, the Tiangong space station can be further expanded into six modules possibly enabling more astronaut participation in the future.[100]
Assembly
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The construction of the Chinese Space Station officially began in April 2021. The planned 11 missions include three module launches, four crewed missions, and four autonomous cargo flights.[101] On 29 April 2021, the first component of the station, the Tianhe core module, was launched to orbit aboard the Long March 5B rocket from Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site.[102] On 29 May 2021, the Tianzhou 2 autonomous cargo spacecraft was launched to the Tianhe core module in preparation for the Shenzhou 12 crew, who will be responsible for testing Tianhe's various systems and preparing for future operations.[103] On 17 June 2021, Shenzhou 12 docked with the space station, marking them the first visitors to the Tiangong station.[104] The crew began the examination of the core module and verification of key technologies.[105] On 4 July 2021, Liu Boming and Tang Hongbo began their first spacewalk in upgraded Chinese Feitian spacesuits, outfitting the space stations with extravehicular activity (EVA) equipment, such as foot restraints and a standing platform for Chinarm. Shenzhou 12 commander Nie Haisheng stayed inside the station and tested the robotic arm movements.[106] Liu Boming and Nie Haisheng completed the second spacewalk on 20 August 2021 and installed various devices outside of the station, including a thermal control system, a panoramic camera, and other equipment.[107] On 16 September 2021, the Shenzhou 12 crew entered their return spacecraft and undocked from Tianhe. Before leaving the orbit, the crew performed various radial rendezvous (R-Bar) maneuvers to circumnavigate around the space station. They tested the guidance system and recorded lighting conditions while approaching the Tianhe from different angles.[108][109] The crew landed in the Gobi Desert of Inner Mongolia on the same day.[110] TheTianzhou 3 cargo spacecraft, which arrived at the launch facility a month earlier,[111] was immediately rolled out onto the launch pad for the next supply mission.[109]
On 20 September 2021, the Tianzhou 3 autonomous freighter was launched from the Wenchang Satellite Launch Center in preparation for the arrival of the Shenzhou 13 crew.[112] Shenzhou 13 was the first six-month mission on the Tiangong station, whereas Shenzhou 12 was only three months in length.[113] The Shenzhou 13 spacecraft docked with the space station on 15 October 2021.[114][115][116] Missions for the Shenzhou 13 crew included orbit experiments, spacewalks, and for the station's future expansion.[117] On 7 November 2021, Shenzhou 13 crew Zhai Zhigang and Wang Yaping conducted the first spacewalks to test the next-generation EVA suit and robotic Chinarm, making Wang Yaping China's first female spacewalker.[118] One of the missions in the 6.5-hour extravehicular activity was to install a dual-arm connector to the 10-meter-long robotic arm, providing the capability for Chinarm to extend in length with another 5-meter-long segment mounted on the Wentian module. According to Gao Shen of the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST), the combined 15-meter Chinarm will have greater range and weight-carrying capacity.[81] During spacewalks, various preparations were performed on the robotic arm for manipulation and construction of future modules.[81]
On 26 December 2021, Shenzhou 13 crew Zhai Zhigang and Ye Guangfu conducted the second spacewalk to install a panoramic camera, which will be used for space station monitoring and robotic arm observation.[119] They also practiced various movements with the help of Chinarm controlled by monitoring astronaut Wang Yaping inside the station.[120] During the construction phase of the station in 2021, according to documents filed by China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) with the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs and reported by Reuters, the station had two "close encounters" with SpaceX's Starlink satellites on 1 July and 21 October, with the station conducting evasive adjustment maneuvers.[121][122][123] On 5 January 2022, Shenzhou 13 team used the 10-meter long Chinarm to relocate the Tianzhou 2 supply ship by 20 degrees before returning it to the original location. This maneuver was conducted to practice the procedures, equipment, and backup operation system needed for future module assembly.[80] On 13 January, the crew tested the emergency docking system by controlling the cargo spacecraft manually.[124] In March 2022, the crew began preparations to undock from the space station.[125] The crew landed in China on 16 April 2022, after staying 182 days in low-Earth orbit.[126][127] Soon after, China launched the Tianzhou 4 cargo spacecraft in preparation for the next crewed mission in May.[128] The automated freighter docked with the space station on 9 May 2022, and carried vital maintenance equipment and a refrigerator for scientific experiment.[129]
Beginning with Shenzhou 14, China officially started the final construction phase for the space station, with three astronauts tasked to oversee the arrival of two laboratory modules in 2022.[130] On 5 June 2022, the Shenzhou 14 crew arrived at the space station,[131] docking at the Earth-facing nadir port.[132] The Shenzhou 14 crew began the assembly for both the Wentian and Mengtian modules, which arrived in the second half of 2022.[132] The crew installed a carbon dioxide reduction system for the space station, tested their Feitian spacesuits, and debugged the Tianhe core module.[133] On 19 July 2022, Tianzhou 3 was undocked from the station, making way for the arrival of the Wentian module.[134] On 24 July 2022, the Wentian laboratory module was launched from the Wenchang space center and rendezvoused with the Tianhe core module on the same day.[135][48] Wentian is the second module for the Tiangong space station, and the first laboratory cabin module (LCM). The module is equipped with an airlock cabin, which will become the primary entry-exit point for future EVAs.[50] The module also features backup avionics, propulsion, and life support systems, improving the Tiangong space station's operational redundancy.[48][136] On 2 September 2022, crew members Chen Dong and Liu Yang performed their first spacewalk from the new Wentian airlock, installing and adjusting various external equipment as well as testing emergency return procedures.[137][51] On 17 September 2022, astronauts Chen Dong and Cai Xuzhe performed the mission's second spacewalk, installing external pumps and verified emergency rescue capability.[138] On 30 September 2022, all crew members worked in coordination, moving the Wentian module from the forward port to the starboard lateral docking port, its planned permanent location, on 30 September 2022 at 04:44 UTC.[139] The relocation process was largely automated with the assistance of the indexing robotic arm.[140] In October 2022, CMSA prepared to launch the third and final module, Mengtian, to complete the construction for the Tiangong space station.[100][141]
On 31 October 2022, the Mengtian module was launched from the Wenchang space center,[142] and docked with the station 13 hours later.[57][143][144] The assembly of the Mengtian marked the final step in the 1.5-year construction process.[145][146][147] According to theChina Academy of Space Technology, the rendezvous and docking process for Mengtian was conducted expeditiously, as the-then L-shaped Tiangong station consumed large amounts of energy to stay oriented in its asymmetrical arrangement.[82] On 3 November 2022, Mengtian was relocated autonomously from the forward docking port to the port-side lateral docking port via the indexing robotic arm, and successfully berthed at its planned permanent location with the Tianhe module at 01:32UTC (9:32BJT), forming a T-shape.[148] Subsequently, CMSA announced the construction of the Tiangong space station as officially complete.[149] The designer of Mengtian module, Li Guangxing, explained that the space station was maneuvered to a special position, utilizing the Earth's gravity to help stabilize the docking process.[149] At 07:12 UTC, the Shenzhou 14 crew entered the Mengtian module.[149][150] On 10 November 2022, the Tianzhou 4 cargo spacecraft undocked from the Tiangong, and Tianzhou 5 was prepared to launch on the same day.[151] Tianzhou 5 was launched on 12 November 2022, carrying supplies, experiments, and microsatellites to the space station.[152][153] It also contained gifts for China's first crew handover ceremony in orbit.[154] The completed station had extra capacity for expanded crew activities and living space for six, allowing crew rotation.[155] On 29 November 2022, the Shenzhou 15 crew, Fei Junlong, Deng Qingming, and Zhang Lu[156], were launched to the space station.[157] The crew spent one week together for a handover and verifications for sustainable six-man operations.[158][159] With the crew rotation operation, China commenced its permanent space presence.[160][161][162]
On 17 December 2024, Cai Xuzhe broke the record with Song Lingdong for the longest spacewalk in human history, of 9 hours and 6 minutes, with the assistance of the space station's robotic arms and ground-based scientific personnel, completed tasks such as the installation of space debris protection devices, inspection, and maintenance of external equipment and facilities.[163]
Expansion
According to CMSA, the Tiangong space station is expected to be expanded from three to six modules,[142][164] with improved versions of the Tianhe, Wentian, and Mengtian modules.[164]
According to Wang Xiang, commander of the space station system at the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST), the potential next phase would be adding a new core module. "Following our current design, we can continue to launch an extension module to dock with the forward section of the space station, and the extension module can carry a new hub for docking with the subsequent space vehicles," Wang told CCTV.[165][166] In October 2023, CAST presented new plan on the 74th International Astronautical Congress to expand the Tiangong to 180 tons, six-module assembly, with at least 15 years of operational life.[167] A multi-functional module with six docking ports was planned as the foundation for the expansion. New sections included 3D printers, robots, improved robotic arms, and space debris observation, detection, and warning systems.[168]
The Xuntian space telescope module, which will orbit independently but is capable of docking with Tiangong, is planned to launch in late 2026.[169]
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International cooperation
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China's incentive to build its own space station increased after the U.S. Congress approved the Wolf Amendment in 2011, which prohibits NASA from engaging in direct cooperation with Chinese space agencies, effectively excluding China from the International Space Station (ISS).[170]
Roscosmos, Russia's space agency, and the European Space Agency (ESA), two of NASA's ISS partners, expressed intentions to cooperate with China in space.[171] Between 2007 and 2011, Russia, Europe, and China collaborated on the Mars500 project, a ground-based simulation complementing ISS-based preparations for a human mission to Mars.[172]
Tiangong hosts international experiments from 17 countries across 23 institutions, including Belgium, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, Peru, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and Spain.[173][174] The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs was involved in selecting nine of these international experiments.
ESA began astronaut training with the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA, formerly CMSEO) in 2017, preparing selected astronauts for potential Tiangong missions, including survival training, language instruction, and spacecraft operations.[175][176] In January 2023, ESA announced it would no longer send astronauts to Tiangong due to political and financial considerations.[177]
Following the launch of Tiangong's first module in 2021, CMSA stated that multiple countries had expressed interest in sending astronauts to the station and that future foreign participation would be supported.[178] Chinese officials have indicated that Chinese and foreign astronauts are expected to work together once the station is fully operational.[179]
In October 2022, CMSA opened astronaut selection to residents of Hong Kong and Macau.[180]
In 2025, China and Pakistan signed an agreement to send a Pakistani astronaut to Tiangong on a short-duration mission.[181]
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Life aboard
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Crew activities
Astronauts on the Tiangong station follow China Standard Time (CST) for their daily schedule. The crew often wakes up around 7:00 and begins their daily conference with Mission Control in Beijing before starting work at 08:00 (00:00UTC). The crew will then follow their planned schedule until 21:00, after which they report their work process to Mission Control. At 13:30, astronauts enter their living quarters to take a nap, which typically takes an hour. The crew also has multiple breaks for eating and resting.[182] The Tiangong station features a lighting scene function to simulate lighting conditions on Earth, including daylight, dusk, and night. As the station experiences 16 sunrises and sunsets per day in low Earth orbit, this function helps to avoid disruption to the crew's circadian rhythm.[182][183]
The Tiangong space station is fitted with home automation functions, including remote-controlled appliances and a logistics management system.[183] The crew can use their tablet computers to identify, locate, and organize items inside the station, as all items in the station are marked by QR codes. This will help ensure an orderly environment as more cargo arrives.[183] Inter-device communication inside the station is completely wireless via the Wi-Fi network to avoid a cord mess.[183]
Food and personal hygiene
Meals consisting of 120 different types of food, selected based on astronauts' preferences, are stored aboard. Staples including shredded pork in garlic sauce, kung pao chicken, black pepper beef, yuxiang shredded pork, pickled cabbage, and beverages, including a variety of teas and juices, are resupplied by trips of the Tianzhou-class robotic cargo spacecraft. Fresh fruit and vegetables are stored in coolers. Huang Weifen, the chief astronaut trainer of CMSA, explains that most of the food is prepared to be solid, boneless, and in small pieces. Condiments such as pork sauce and Sichuan pepper sauce are used to compensate for the changes in the sense of taste in microgravity. The station is equipped with a small kitchen table for food preparation, a refrigerator, a water dispenser, and the first-ever microwave oven in spaceflight[182][184][185] so that astronauts can "always have hot food whenever they need."[186][187] Following the astronauts' feedback, larger supplies of vegetables have been included since Tianzhou 4, increasing the variety of vegetable to 32.[188] Later, Shenzhou 21 delivered an air fryer to the Tiangong, which features built-in air purification and residue collector to allow safe usage inside microgravity. The new oven allows baking and grilling of food, instead of simple reheating. Chinese astronauts cooked barbecue chicken wings and grilled steak with it.[189][190]
The station's core module, Tianhe, provides the living quarters for the crew members,[191][192] consisting of three separate sleeping berths,[193] a space toilet, shower facility, and gym equipment.[194] Each berth features one small circular window,[195] a headphone set, ventilation, and other amenities.[196] Neuromuscular electrical stimulation is used to prevent muscle atrophy. The noise level in the working area is set at 58 decibels, while in the sleeping area, the noise is kept at 49 decibels.[197][198] The ventilation system provides air circulation to the crew, with 0.08 m/s wind speed for the working areas and 0.05 m/s for the sleeping stations.[183] Three additional living quarters for short-term stay are located in the Wentian laboratory module.[49]
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Operations
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Since 5 June 2022, Tiangong has been a permanently crewed station, typically staffed with a crew of three but capable of supporting up to six people.[7][1] After the completion of the station in November 2022, it housed a crew of 6 for the first time for 5 days during the crew rotation from Shenzhou 14 to Shenzhou 15 in December 2022.[1] Operations are controlled from the Beijing Aerospace Flight Control Center in China. To guarantee the safety of astronauts on board, a Long March 2F/G with a Shenzhou spacecraft will always be on standby for an emergency rescue mission.[199]
Crewed missions
The first crewed mission to Tiangong, Shenzhou 12, lasted 90 days. Starting with Shenzhou 13, subsequent missions have had a normal duration of about 180 days.[200]
The Shenzhou 20 crew was expected to return to Earth in early November 2025 after the arrival of the Shenzhou 21 crew. However, due to suspected space debris damage, the return of the Shenzhou 20 spacecraft has been delayed indefinitely, and the Shenzhou 20 crew returned to Earth on November 14 using the Shenzhou 21 spacecraft instead.[201]
CMSA has announced the testing of the Mengzhou spacecraft to eventually replace Shenzhou. It is designed to carry astronauts to Tiangong and offer the capability for lunar exploration. China's next-generation crew carrier is reusable with a detachable heat shield built to handle higher-temperature returns through Earth's atmosphere. According to CMSA officials, the new capsule design is larger than the Shenzhou. Mengzhou is capable of carrying astronauts to the Moon, and can accommodate up to six to seven crew members at a time, three more astronauts than Shenzhou.[202] The new crewed spacecraft has a cargo section that allows astronauts to bring cargo back to Earth, whereas the Tianzhou cargo resupply spacecraft is not designed to bring any cargo back to Earth.[202]
List of current crew members
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Cargo resupply
Tianzhou (Heavenly Vessel), a modified derivative of the Tiangong-1 spacecraft, is used as robotic cargo spacecraft to resupply this station.[203] The launch mass of Tianzhou is around 13,000 kg with a payload of around 6,000 kg.[204] Launch, rendezvous and docking are fully autonomous, with mission control and crew used in override or monitoring roles.[205]
List of missions
- All dates are UTC. Dates are the earliest possible dates and may change.
- Forward ports are at the front of the station according to its normal direction of travel and orientation (attitude). Aft is at the rear of the station, used by spacecraft to boost the station's orbit. Nadir is closest to the Earth, zenith is on top. Port is to the left if pointing one's feet towards the Earth and looking in the direction of travel; starboard to the right.
- Key (Based on launch)
Uncrewed cargo spacecraft are in light blue colour
Crewed spacecraft are in light green colour
Modules are in beige colour
End of mission
Tiangong is designed to be used for 10 years, though it could be extended to 15 years[241] and will accommodate three astronauts.[242] CMSA crewed spacecraft use deorbital burns to slow their velocity, resulting in their re-entry to the Earth's atmosphere. Vehicles carrying a crew have a heat shield which prevents the vehicle's destruction caused by aerodynamic heating upon contact with the Earth's atmosphere. The station itself has no heat-shield; however, small parts of space stations can reach the surface of the Earth, so uninhabited areas will be targeted for de-orbit manoeuvres.[88]
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Visibility
Similar to the ISS, the Tiangong space station can also be seen from Earth with the naked eye due to sunlight illumination reflected off the modules and solar panels, seen a few hours after sunset and before sunrise, reaching a brightness magnitude of at least -2.2 mag.[243][244]
See also
- International Space Station – Inhabited space station in low Earth orbit
- List of space stations
- Politics of outer space – Political considerations of space policy
- Science diplomacy – International scientific cooperation
Notes
- Excludes visiting cargo like Tianzhou and crew vehicles like Shenzhou that are meant for supplementing the space station
- Duration of a spacecraft is calculated from the moment of docking with the Tianhe core module to the moment of undocking with the station.
- Initially docked to aft port, moved to forward port on 18 Sep 2021, and then again to portside port on 6 Jan 2022
- Initially docked to aft port, moved to forward port on 20 Apr 2022
- Initially docked to forward port, it was moved to starboard berth on 30 Sep 2022 by the Indexing Robot Arm
- Initially docked to forward port, it was moved to the port berth on 3 Nov 2022 by the Indexing Robot Arm
- Initially docked to aft port, from 5 May 2023, it was free-flying and co-orbiting the space station, then redocked to forward port on 5 June 2023
- Launched, crewed but landed uncrewed due to cracks in spacecraft's porthole caused by external space debris impact. Crew landed via Shenzhou 21.
- Landed with Shenzhou 20 crew due to cracks in Shenzhou 20 spacecraft's porthole caused by external space debris impact. Crew will land via Shenzhou 22.
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References
External links
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