Tiangong program

Tiangong (Chinese: 天宫; pinyin: Tiāngōng; lit. 'Heaven's Palace') is a space station program of the People's Republic of China, with the goal of creating a modular space station, comparable to Mir. This program is independent and unconnected to any other international space-active countries.[1] The program began in 1992 as Project 921-2. As of January 2013, China moved forward on a large multiphase construction program that will lead to a large space station around 2020.[2]

"Tiangong" redirects here. For other uses, see Tiangong (disambiguation).
Diagram of Tiangong-1

China launched its first space laboratory, Tiangong-1, on September 29, 2011. Following Tiangong-1, a more advanced space laboratory complete with cargo ship, dubbed Tiangong-2, was launched on September 15, 2016. The project will culminate with a large orbital station, which will consist of a 20-ton core module, 2 smaller research modules, and cargo transport craft.[3] It will support three astronauts for long-term habitation[2] and was scheduled to be completed by 2020 just as the International Space Station was at that time scheduled to be retired,[4] but this has since slipped to 2024.[5]

Background
Main article: Chinese space program

After the United States threatened to use nuclear weapons during the Korean War,[6][7] Chairman Mao Zedong decided that only a nuclear deterrent of its own would guarantee the security of the newly founded PRC. Thus, Mao announced his decision to develop China's own strategic weapons, including associated missiles. After the launch of mankind's first artificial satellite, Sputnik 1 by the Soviet Union on October 4, 1957, Chairman Mao decided to put China on an equal footing with the superpowers ("我们也要搞人造卫星"), using Project 581 with the idea of putting a satellite in orbit by 1959 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the PRC's founding. However, it would not be until April 24, 1970 that this goal would become a reality.

The PRC crewed space program orbited Yang Liwei in Shenzhou 5

Mao and Zhou Enlai began the PRC's crewed space program on July 14, 1967.[8] China's first crewed spacecraft design was named Shuguang-1 (曙光一号) in January 1968.[9] Project 714 was officially adopted in April 1971 with the goal of sending two astronauts into space by 1973 aboard the Shuguang spacecraft. The first screening process for astronauts had already ended on March 15, 1971, with 19 astronauts chosen. The program was soon cancelled due to political turmoil.

The next crewed space program was even more ambitious and was proposed in March 1986 as Project 863. This consisted of a crewed spacecraft (Project 863-204) used to ferry astronaut crews to a space station (Project 863-205). Several spaceplane designs were rejected two years later and a simpler space capsule was chosen instead. Although the project did not achieve its goals, it would ultimately become the 1992 Project 921, encompassing the Shenzhou program, the Tiangong program, and the Chinese space station.

On the 50th anniversary of the PRC's founding, China launched the Shenzhou 1 spacecraft on November 20, 1999 and recovered it after a flight of 21 hours. The country became the third country with a successful crewed space program by sending Yang Liwei into space aboard Shenzhou 5 on October 15, 2003 for more than 21 hours. It was a major success for Chinese space programs.

Project history

In 1999, Project 921-2 was finally given official authorization. Two versions of the station were studied: an 8-metric ton "space laboratory" and 20-metric ton "space station".

In 2000, the first model of the planned space station was unveiled at Expo 2000 in Hanover, Germany. This was made up of modules derived from the orbital module of the Shenzhou spacecraft. Overall length of the station would be around 20 m, with a total mass of under 40 metric tons, with possibility of expansion through addition of further modules.

In 2001, Chinese engineers described a three-step process toward the realization of Project 921. The original target date for the fulfillment of the project was 2010.

  • First, crewed flight itself (Phase 1); this successfully occurred in 2003.
  • Second, the orbiting of a space laboratory (Phase 2, a scaled back version of the initial model) that would only be crewed on a short-term basis and left in an automated mode between visits.
  • The third phase would involve the launch of a larger space laboratory, which would be permanently crewed and be China's first true space station (Phase 3).

Originally, China planned to simply dock Shenzhou 8 and Shenzhou 9 together to form a simple space laboratory. However, it was decided to abandon that plan and launch a small space laboratory instead. In 2007, plans for an 8-metric ton "space laboratory" being launched in 2010 under the designation of Tiangong-1 were made public. This would be an eight-ton space laboratory module with two docking ports. Subsequent flights (Shenzhou 9 and Shenzhou 10) will dock with the laboratory.[10]

On September 29, 2008, Zhang Jianqi (张建启), Vice Director of China crewed space engineering, declared in an interview of China Central Television[11] it is Tiangong-1 (i.e. not Shenzhou 8) that will be the 8-ton "target vehicle", and Shenzhou 8, Shenzhou 9, and Shenzhou 10 will all be spaceships to dock with Tiangong-1 in turn.

On October 1, 2008, Shanghai Space Administration, which participated in the development of Shenzhou 8, stated[12] that they succeeded in the simulated experiments for the docking of Tiangong-1 and Shenzhou 8.

On June 16, 2012, Shenzhou 9 was launched from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Inner Mongolia, China, carrying a crew of three. The Shenzhou craft successfully docked with the Tiangong-1 laboratory on June 18, 2012, at 06:07 UTC, marking China's first crewed spacecraft docking.[13]

On June 11, 2013, China launched Shenzhou 10 with a crew of three headed for the Tiangong-1.[14]

The full 60-metric ton "space station" has been delayed to ~2020–2022, and will support three astronauts for long-term habitation.[2]

Details

Space laboratory phase

Chinese efforts to develop LEO space station capabilities will begin with a space laboratory phase, with the launch of three Tiangong test vehicles (later reduced to two).[2]

Tiangong-1 "target vehicle"
Drawing of Shenzhou docked to Tiangong-1
Main article: Tiangong-1

The Chinese docking target consists of a propulsion (resource) module and a pressurized module for experiments, with a docking mechanism at either end. The docking port of the experiment section supports automated docking.[15] Its length is 10.5 metres (34 ft), diameter is 3.4 metres (11 ft),[2] with a mass of 8,000 kilograms (18,000 lb). Launched on September 29, 2011, it was intended for short stays of a crew of three.[15][10][11] The second docking port, on the propulsion module, was kept screened from press photography inside and outside the module. It re-entered and burned up in the atmosphere on April 2, 2018, at 00:16 UTC.[16]

Tiangong-2 "space laboratory"
Model of a Shenzhou docked to a Tiangong
Main article: Tiangong-2

A second and a third test station were originally planned to precede the eventual modular station. These would be 14.4 metres (47 ft) long, with a diameter of 4.2 metres (14 ft), and weigh up to 20,000 kilograms (44,000 lb).[1] The second one would provide life support for a crew of 2 for 20 days, and the third one a crew of 3 for 40 days.[2] However, all the objectives of these two stations were later merged into one project,[17] and the size scaled down to less than 10,000 kilograms (22,000 lb).

The resulting Tiangong-2 space laboratory was launched on September 15, 2016.[18] The station made a controlled reentry on July 19, 2019 and burned up over the South Pacific Ocean.[19]

Tiangong-3
Main article: Tiangong-3

A third space station proposed but later cancelled in favor of advancing to the new large modular station.

Large orbital station
Main article: Chinese large modular space station
Chinese space station
(Project 921 Phase 3)
20-metric ton "space station"
Drawing of Shenzhou and Cargo ship docked to the large orbital station
Station statistics
Crew2–3
Launch~2020–2022
Mass66,000 kg
Length~ 20.00 m
Diameter~ 3.00 m

China plans to build the world's third multi-module space station, to follow Mir and the International Space Station (ISS).[1] This was dependent upon the date of OPSEK's separation from the ISS but after a statement in September 2017, the head of Roscosmos Igor Komarov said that the technical feasibility of separating the station to form OPSEK had been studied and there were now "no plans to separate the Russian segment from the ISS".[20] The previous separate components will be integrated into a space station, arranged as:[2]

  • Core Cabin Module (CCM) – based on the Tiangong-3 "space station" and analogous to the Mir Core Module. The 18.1-meter-long core module, with a maximum diameter of 4.2 meters and a launch weight of 20 to 22 tons, will be launched first.[21]
  • Laboratory Cabin Module I (LCM-1) and Laboratory Cabin Module II (LCM-2) – based on Tiangong-2 "space laboratory". Each laboratory module is 14.4 meters long, with the same maximum diameter and launch weight of the core module.[21]
  • Shenzhou – crewed vessel
  • Tianzhou ("Heavenly Vessel") – a cargo craft based on Tiangong-1 that will have a maximum diameter of 3.35 metres (11.0 ft) and a launch weight less than 13 tonnes (13 long tons; 14 short tons), intended to transport supplies and experiments to the space station. The craft will have three versions: pressurized, unpressurized, and a combination of the two. It was first launched on the new Long March 7 rocket from Wenchang on April 20, 2017.[22][23][24]

The larger station will be assembled in 2020–2022 and have a design lifetime of ten years. The complex will weigh approximately 60,000 kilograms (130,000 lb) and will support three astronauts for long-term habitation.[2] The public is being asked to submit suggestions for names and symbols to adorn the space station and cargo ship. "Considering past achievements and the bright future, we feel that the crewed space program should have a more vivid symbol and that the future space station should carry a resounding and encouraging name", Wang Wenbao, director of the office, said at the news conference. "We now feel that the public should be involved in the names and symbols as this major project will enhance national prestige, and strengthen the national sense of cohesion and pride", Wang said.[21]

International co-operation

After the success of China's crewed space launch, a Chinese official expressed interest in joining the International Space Station program.[25] In 2010, ESA Director-General Jean-Jacques Dordain stated that his agency was ready to propose to the other 4 partners that China, India, and South Korea be invited to join the ISS partnership.[26] China has indicated a willingness to cooperate further with other countries on crewed exploration.[27]

See also

References
  1. Branigan, Tania; Sample, Ian (April 26, 2011). "China unveils rival to International Space Station". The Guardian. Retrieved April 27, 2011. China often chooses poetic names for its space projects, such as Chang'e – after the moon goddess – for its lunar probes; its rocket series, however, is named Long March, in tribute to communist history. The space station project is currently referred to as Tiangong, or "heavenly palace".
  2. David, Leonard (March 7, 2011). "China Details Ambitious Space Station Goals". Space.com. Retrieved March 9, 2011. China is ready to carry out a multiphase construction program that leads to a large space station around 2020. As a prelude to building that facility, China is set to loft the Tiangong-1 module this year as a platform to help master key rendezvous and docking technologies.
  3. Xin, Dingding (March 3, 2009). "China outlines space station plan". China Daily. Retrieved November 16, 2013.
  4. Hille, Kathrin (September 20, 2011). "China takes first step towards space station". Financial Times. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  5. de Selding, Peter B. (February 25, 2015). "Russia — and Its Modules — To Part Ways with ISS in 2024". SpaceNews. Retrieved February 26, 2015.
  6. Yue, Dongxiao (1998). "Korean War FAQ". CenturyChina.com. Retrieved March 12, 2016.
  7. Cooper, Roxanne (October 9, 2010). "US repeatedly threatened to use nukes on N. Korea: declassified documents". The Raw Story. Retrieved March 12, 2016.
  8. "首批航天员19人胜出 为后来积累了宝贵的经验". tech.tom.com (in Chinese). TOM Online. September 16, 2005. Archived from the original on December 22, 2005. Retrieved July 24, 2008.
  9. Chang, Ying, ed. (October 5, 2005). "[焦点访谈]第一艘无人试验飞船发射成功―回首航天路（四）". CCTV.com (in Chinese). China Central Television. Retrieved August 2, 2007.
  10. Clark, Stephen (September 29, 2011). "Chinese rocket successfully launches mini-space lab". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved October 19, 2011.
  11. "我国将于2010年-2011年发射小型空间站" [China will launch a small space station in 2010–2011]. Sina News (in Chinese). September 29, 2008. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  12. "神八空间模拟对接初步成功" [Simulated docking of Shenzhou 8 has succeeded]. Sina News (in Chinese). October 1, 2008. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  13. Amos, Jonathan (June 18, 2012). "Shenzhou-9 docks with Tiangong-1". BBC News. Retrieved June 21, 2012.
  14. Harwood, William (June 11, 2013). "China launches fifth manned space mission". CBC News. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  15. "Tiangong I". cmse.gov.cn. China Manned Space Engineering Office. Archived from the original on May 8, 2011. Retrieved October 26, 2011.
  16. Thompson, Avery (September 19, 2016). "China Confirms Its Space Station Is Falling Back to Earth". Popular Mechanics. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  17. "脚踏实地，仰望星空——访中国载人航天工程总设计师周建平". cmse.gov.cn (in Chinese). China Manned Space Engineering Office. April 28, 2016. Retrieved April 22, 2017.
  18. "China to launch Tiangong-2 and cargo spacecraft in 2015". GBTimes. June 13, 2013. Archived from the original on June 18, 2013. Retrieved June 16, 2013.
  19. Liptak, Andrew (July 20, 2019). "China has deorbited its experimental space station". The Verge. Retrieved July 21, 2019.
  20. Foust, Jeff (September 25, 2017). "International partners in no rush regarding future of ISS". SpaceNews. Retrieved December 28, 2018.
  21. Xin, Dingding (April 26, 2011). "Countdown begins for space station program". China Daily. Retrieved April 28, 2011.
  22. Barbosa, Rui C. (April 19, 2017). "Tianzhou-1 – China launches and docks debut cargo resupply". NASASpaceFlight.com. Retrieved May 5, 2018.
  23. Clark, Stephen (March 3, 2016). "China to launch new space lab later this year". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved March 8, 2016.
  24. Jones, Morris (March 3, 2014). "The Next Tiangong". Space Daily. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  25. Tong, Zongli, ed. (October 16, 2007). "李学勇：中国希望参加国际空间站计划". People's Daily (in Chinese). Archived from the original on November 15, 2017.
  26. de Selding, Peter B. (February 3, 2010). "ESA Chief Lauds Renewed U.S. Commitment to Space Station, Earth Science". SpaceNews. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  27. "Cooperation & Exchange". cmse.gov.cn. China Manned Space Engineering Office. Archived from the original on May 8, 2011.
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