China successfully launched a new module of its orbiting space station Tiangong on Sunday. This is just one more step in the Asian country’s ambitious space plans. With this Tiangong module it is almost completed, so it is convenient to analyze the reasons that lead China to carry out this project and what its implications may be at a time when space exploration is entering a new race.
The launch.
The module was launched into orbit using a Long March-5B Y3 rocket from the Wenchang launch base in Hainan. The launch took place at 2:22 p.m. local time, 8:22 a.m. (CET). After 8 minutes of ascent and 13 more hours of travel, the module was able to dock with the front port of Tianhe, the first module of the Chinese space station, in orbit since April last year.
New module for the station.
The new module is called Wentian and is made up of three parts: an area for laboratory work, a chamber with an airlock, and a cabin for resources. The module is the heaviest of the three that will make up the ship, with 23 tons at the time of its launch into orbit. It has a diameter of 4.2 meters and a length of 17.9 meters
The main objective of this module, according to the Chinese authorities, will be to carry out ecological and biotechnological experiments in different gravitational situations. It also carries solar panels to power the station and a camera with a hatch to allow extravehicular activities (EVAs).
Tiandong station.
Wentian will accompany the Tianhe module, in orbit since April last year, awaiting the arrival of the station’s third and last module, Mengtian, which should dock in October this year. The modules that make up Tiangong, whose name can be translated as heavenly palace, will be orbiting the Earth at about 370 kilometers above its surface (it will remain between 340 and 450 km).
When completed, the Chinese station, with its three modules and just under 70 tons, will be smaller in size and mass than the International Space Station (ISS). The station could be expanded beyond the initial plans, up to six modules, starting with the addition of a fourth module if everything goes according to the plans of the Chinese authorities.
According to Beijing, the taikonauts will alternate six-month stays to maintain a continuous human presence in orbit for at least the next ten years. Shenzhou ships are in charge of transshipping taikonauts between Earth and Tiangong.
A station of its own.
China is excluded from its participation in the ISS due to the prohibition imposed by the US Congress of any collaboration between entities of the North American country and the Chinese in aerospace matters. China has announced for its part that Tiangong will be open for use by foreign astronauts, as well as to host space tourists.
Support for Xuntian.
Tiangong will not be far away (in orbital terms) from another of China’s announced projects: the Xuntian telescope. The space station will thus be able to support this telescope similar to Hubble in its conception. The telescope is designed to be able to dock with the space station for maintenance and possible repairs.
Mengitan, the remaining module.
In October the Mengian module will complete, if all goes according to plan, the Tiangong station. This module will be approximately symmetrical to Wentian, and will also have space for use in experiments, while Tianhe, the central module will be used as a living area.
Future plans.
The station is expected to host astronauts from other countries, including ESA astronauts and Russian cosmonauts in the near future. Similarly to NASA, the Chinese authorities have also called for cooperation with private companies to improve their system for sending materials to Tiangong.
Tiangong is but one more step in China’s ambitious plans to lead the second space race. Among other objectives, the Asian giant intends to put human beings on the Moon with a schedule that could advance the Artemis missions. China also wants to return samples of the Martian soil, again being able to anticipate the joint plans of NASA and ESA for the analysis of the red planet.
Image | China News Service
George is Digismak’s reported cum editor with 13 years of experience in Journalism