{"id":34345,"date":"2022-08-03T07:33:13","date_gmt":"2022-08-03T07:33:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.skyatnightmagazine.com\/?p=110817"},"modified":"2022-08-03T07:52:11","modified_gmt":"2022-08-03T07:52:11","slug":"meet-tiangong-chinas-first-long-term-space-station","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/rss_feed\/meet-tiangong-chinas-first-long-term-space-station\/","title":{"rendered":"Meet Tiangong, China\u2019s first long-term space station"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>

By Ezzy Pearson\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Wednesday, 03 August 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

\n\n

T<\/span>he China National Space Agency (CNSA) has become a major space player over the last decade, impressing space fans worldwide in 2021 with the Zhurong rover\u2019s first images of Mars<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Now the nation hopes to take its next leap towards the heavens and complete its first long-term space station, Tiangong, which translates as \u2018heavenly place\u2019.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A crew of three \u2018taikonauts\u2019 are already on board the Tianhe core module, which launched in 2021.<\/p>\n

They are overseeing the installation of the final two science modules, the first of which, Wentian, launched on 24 July 2022.<\/p>\n

The goal of the station is to give CNSA the know-how to send crews to live in space, and Tiangong is a key component of China\u2019s ambitions to send humans to the Moon and on to Mars.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
The launch of China\u2019s science module, Wentian, for the Tiangong space station at Wenchang spaceport, southern China, 24 July 2022. Credit:\/CNS\/AFP via Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

China has constructed its own station as US law prohibits NASA from working with China, effectively barring them from the International Space Station<\/a>.<\/p>\n

However, the nation is keen to collaborate with other international partners and has already run joint training exercises with ESA.<\/p>\n

Indeed, China\u2019s aim is that Tiangong will act as a new hub of international cooperation in space once the ISS is decommissioned<\/a> in 2031.<\/p>\n

Below is a guide to the Tiangong space station\u2019s various components, and how they operate.<\/p>\n

Tiangong space station\u2019s structure and components<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Credit: Adrian Mann\/Stocktrek Images\/iStock\/Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Shenzhou \u2013 \u2018Divine vessel\u2019<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The Shenzhou transport vehicle is the main vehicle used by China for its human spaceflight programme. It borrows heavily from the Russian Soyuz capsule, though is slightly larger and can carry up to three passengers at a time.<\/p>\n

Wentian \u2013 \u2018Heavenly quest\u2019<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Launched 24 July 2022<\/strong><\/p>\n

A laboratory module where scientific experiments, both from China and international partners, can be conducted. It will contain an airlock to allow taikonauts outside to conduct spacewalks. The hull has several stations where external experiments can be set up. The module also contains back-up avionics and propulsion.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Mengtian \u2013 \u2018Heavenly dream\u2019<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Launched October 2022<\/b><\/p>\n

Mengtian will form the final instalment of the space station. As well as its interior serving as a laboratory, it\u00a0has a cargo airlock where replacement parts or external\u00a0experiments can be delivered outside the station. From here taikonauts and robotic arms can place them on the station\u2019s hull.<\/p>\n

Tianhe \u2013 \u2018Harmony of the heavens\u2019<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Launched\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>29 April 2021<\/b><\/p>\n

The core module and central node of Tiangong, this provides the essential functions of the space station \u2013 life support, navigation, propulsion \u2013 as well as\u00a0the living quarters for up to three crew members.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Tianzhou \u2013 \u2018Heavenly ship\u2019<\/strong><\/h3>\n

An automated freight vehicle which can transport large payloads up to a mass of 6,500kg to the station. Like almost all\u00a0the components of the station, they are launched on Long March 7 rockets.<\/p>\n

Solar panels<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The station is powered by solar arrays. The solar panels on Wentian and Mengtian are about 30m long and will provide most of the station\u2019s power. A set of smaller arrays on Tianhe measures 18m long.<\/p>\n

How Tiangong compares to the International Space Station<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Credit: Adrian Mann\/Stocktrek Images\/iStock\/Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

International Space Station<\/strong><\/h3>\n
  • Living space:<\/b> 916m3<\/sup><\/li>\n
  • Length: <\/b>108m<\/li>\n
  • Normal occupancy: <\/b>6<\/li>\n
  • Orbit height: <\/b>408km<\/li>\n<\/ul>

    Tiangong<\/strong><\/h3>\n
    • Living space: <\/b>110m3<\/sup><\/li>\n
    • Length: <\/b>20m<\/li>\n
    • Normal occupancy: <\/b>3<\/li>\n
    • Orbit height: <\/b>389km<\/li>\n<\/ul>

      This guide originally appeared in the August 2022 issue of <\/strong><\/em>BBC Sky at Night Magazine<\/strong>.<\/strong><\/em><\/p><\/body><\/html>\n

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      By Ezzy Pearson Published: Wednesday, 03 August 2022 at 12:00 am The China National Space Agency (CNSA) has become a major space player over the last decade, impressing space fans worldwide in 2021 with the Zhurong rover\u2019s first images of Mars. Now the nation hopes to take its next leap towards the heavens and complete […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":34346,"template":"","categories":[1],"acf":{"readingTimeMinutes":"3"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/77\/2022\/08\/meet-tiangong-chinas-first-long-term-space-station.jpg",2139,1402,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/77\/2022\/08\/meet-tiangong-chinas-first-long-term-space-station-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/77\/2022\/08\/meet-tiangong-chinas-first-long-term-space-station-300x197.jpg",300,197,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/77\/2022\/08\/meet-tiangong-chinas-first-long-term-space-station-768x503.jpg",768,503,true],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/77\/2022\/08\/meet-tiangong-chinas-first-long-term-space-station-1024x671.jpg",800,524,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/77\/2022\/08\/meet-tiangong-chinas-first-long-term-space-station-1536x1007.jpg",1536,1007,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/77\/2022\/08\/meet-tiangong-chinas-first-long-term-space-station-2048x1342.jpg",2048,1342,true]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"By Ezzy Pearson Published: Wednesday, 03 August 2022 at 12:00 am The China National Space Agency (CNSA) has become a major space player over the last decade, impressing space fans worldwide in 2021 with the Zhurong rover\u2019s first images of Mars. Now the nation hopes to take its next leap towards the heavens and complete…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed\/34345"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/rss_feed"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/34346"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=34345"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=34345"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}