China’s Tiangong space station


China aims to complete its Tiangong space station by the end of the year. Tiangong (Palace in the Sky) will link up with Beijing’s planned Xuntian space telescope and host experiments in orbit, around 400km above the Earth

HINA
RUSSIA
INDIA
Beijing
Jiuquan Launch site

JUN 2022: Third crew launched to Tiangong aboard Shenzhou 14 spacecraft

Three crew will oversee installation of two new modules and welcome Shenzhou 15 crew in December

APR 2021: TIANHE (Harmony of the Heavens) launched. Core module consists of  50 cubic metre-living quarters, service section, and docking hub

OCT 2022: MENGTIAN (Dreaming of Heavens) laboratory module due to launch

SERVICE SECTION: Contains avionics, communications, fuel, air and water

Solar panels

Propulsion module

JUL 2022: WENTIAN (Quest for the Heavens) lab module due to launch

SHENZHOU (Divine Vessel) Carries three astronauts

LAUNCHER: Long March 2F rocket. Height: 62m, payload: 8.5 tonnes

2023: XUNTIAN SPACE TELESCOPE (Space Sentinel) due to launch. Will orbit with Tiangong and dock for refuelling and maintenance. Wll conduct research into formation of universe and dark matter

© GRAPHIC NEWS
Sources: Bloomberg, NASA, Space.com, Xinhua
Picture: China National Space Administration