Tiangong
China’s space agency has accomplished many amazing feats in the last few years. They have landed on the far side of the moon, brought moon rocks back to Earth, and recently entered orbit around Mars. Their current project, a modular manned space station is more ambitious than anything that they have tried before.
A brief history of China's space program
China is one of 3 countries currently capable of manned spaceflight. They launched their first person into space in 2003, aboard a Shenzhou spacecraft. Between then and 2016 China launched 6 manned missions and a total of 11 Chinese citizens into space. In 2008, they performed their first spacewalk. China also launched 2 small space stations, Tiangong 1 and 2 (The modular space station is called Tiangong, without a number). These space stations were really small, and were similar to the Russian Salyut space stations. During the few missions that were launched to the Tiangong space stations China learned how to autonomously dock and operate a space station.
The Shenzhou spacecraft's general design is very similar to the Russian Soyuz spacecraft, but has much more interior space. The Service module cannot hold people, and contains lots of the life support equipment. The re-entry module is the only part that returns to Earth. The orbital module can be used as an airlock, or can dock with a space station.
Shenzhou spacecraft can carry up to 3 people. China is also developing a new crewed spacecraft that will be used for deep space missions.
China's plan
The Modules
Tianhe
Tianhe, the core module, launched on the 29th of April, 2021. It contains 5 docking ports, sleeping quarters, life support systems, and solar panels. There is also an airlock that can be used for spacewalks.
Wentian
Wentian will be one of the two laboratory modules that will be added to the space station in 2022. There will be a large pressurized section for astronauts to perform experiments. On the other side of the module, there will be large solar panels used for electricity generation and a place for unpressurized experiments.
Mengtian
Mengtian is the other laboratory module that will launch in 2022. It will be very similar in design to Wentian, and will also have an area for unpressurized experiments near it's solar panels. These experiments will be sent outside of the space station through a small airlock.
Missions to Tiangong
So far, two manned missions have launched to the Chinese Space Station. Multiple science experiments have been conducted, and 2 spacewalks. Current missions are in bold; future missions are in italics.
Shenzhou 12: First Crew
Shenzhou 12 was the first manned mission to the Tiangong Space Station. It launched on June 17th, 2021 on a Long March 2F rocket. The crew consisted of three astronauts, all Chinese men, Nie Haisheng, Tang Hongbo and Liu Boming. At the time, the station consisted of only the Tianhe core module and the Tianzhou 2 resupply vessel that had arrived a few weeks before. During the mission, the astronauts conducted two spacewalks. The three astronauts returned to Earth on the 17th of September 2021 after 92 days in space.
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Shenzhou 13: Preparing for Expansion
To prepare for the Shenzhou 12 mission, China launched the Tianzhou 3 resupply vessel on September 20th 2021. This Shenzhou crew was made up of two spaceflight veterans, Ye Guangfu and Zhai Zhigang, and Wang Yaping, the first woman to visit the Tiangong station. They launched into space on October 15th, and arrived at the station a few hours later.
During their stay on Tiangong, the astronauts performed two spacewalks. During which they tested out equipment and installed a camera. They also moved a Tianzhou resupply vessel with a robotic arm to prepare for the arrival of future modules. They returned to Earth on April 15th, 2022. Their mission lasted about 6 months, and broke the record for longest Chinese space mission, which was set by Shenzhou 12.
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Shenzhou 14: Construction Crew
Shenzhou 14 launched Jun3 5th, 2022. The mission was commanded by Chen Dong, with Liu Yang and Cai Xuzhe accompanying him. Tianzhou 4 launched on May 9th in preparation for the mission. The mission will last about 6 months. During it's time in space, the Shenzhou 14 crew will welcome the Mengtian and Wentian laboratory modules and complete assembly of the Station.
Shenzhou 15: Focus on Science
Shenzhou 15 is scheduled to launch around December 2022. It also last about 6 months. By this time, the station will be assembled, and so the crew will be able to focus on scientific work.
When the Tiangong station is completed it will be much bigger than the small Tiangong prototypes, but it won't be as big as the ISS. The first module of the station was launched in early 2021. The next 2 modules will launch in late this year. Below, you can read about the three main modules, and some other information about how the station will operate.
About the station
How is Tiangong being built?
The three main modules will all launch separately on Long March 5B rockets, then use their thrusters to dock with each other. Astronauts will then use a robotic arm and spacewalks to finish construction.
How many astronauts can live on Tiangong?
The Tiangong space station can accommodate up to 3 astronauts at a time. Astronauts arrive at the station on board Shenzhou space, which are launched on Long March 2F rockets
How will Tiangong be resupplied?
Before each manned mission, China launches one Tianzhou spacecraft. The unmanned Tianzhou spacecraft can autonomously dock, refill the stations fuel tanks. New supplies, such as food, water and science experiments, delivered to the station in Tianzhou spacecraft.
The image above shows what the Tiangong station looked like in October 2021. You can see two Tianzhou resupply craft attached Tianhe, with one on each side. Shenzhou 13 is docked beneath the station. Photo credit: Shujianyang via Wikimedia Commons.
Sources:
https://www.planetary.org/space-missions/chinese-space-station
https://www.britannica.com/technology/Shenzhou
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/china-to-launch-first-module-of-massive-space-station/#
https://www.space.com/china-shenzhou-13-astronauts-begin-space-station-work
https://www.space.com/china-astronauts-second-spacewalk-shenzhou
https://www.space.com/china-shenzhou-13-astronauts-landing-returns-to-earth
https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2022/06/shenzhou-14-mission-launch/