Tiangong, space stations, China

China has announced late on Thursday that the launch of its space lab Tiangong-2 was successful. A Long March-2F T2 carrier rocket, loaded with the Tiangong-2 space lab, blasted off at 10:04 pm local time on September 15 from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China.

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The Shenzhou-11 manned spacecraf docked with the Tiangong-2 (????) space laboratory on 18 October 2016, creating China’s second space station. Astronauts Jing Haipeng and Chen Dong entered Tiangong-2 and will remain for 30 days conducting various experiments.
Credit:
China Central Television

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Shenzhou-11 manned spacecraft undocked from the Tiangong-2 space laboratory and landed safely in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Shenzhou-11 was China's sixth manned spacecraft and its longest mission to date, astronauts Jing Haipeng and Chen Dong spending 30 days in space.

Credit:
China Central Television
Shenzhou-11 undocking and landing
17 – 18 November 2016

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Tianzhou-1 cargo spacecraft successfully completed its first fully automatic docking with the Tiangong-2 space laboratory on 22 April 2017. Tianzhou-1, China’s first cargo spacecraft, was launched by a Long March-7 Yao-2 (LM-7 Y2) carrier rocket on 20 April 2017, at 11:41 UTC. Tianzhou-1 will dock with the Tiangong-2 space lab two more times to test in-orbit liquid propellant refueling, as well as perform other experiments.

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The Tianzhou-1 cargo spacecraft completed its second docking with Tiangong-2 space lab, on 19 June 2017. On 21 June 2017, Tianzhou-1 undocked from Tiangong-2 and started independent flight on an orbit of around 390 kilometers above the Earth. The cargo spacecraft will continue space science experiments and applications, and carry out a fast docking with Tiangong-2 and their third in-orbit refueling.

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The Tianzhou-1 cargo spacecraft completed its third automated fast-docking with the Tiangong-2 space lab, on 12 September 2017. Previously, Tianzhou-1 (天舟一号) undocked from Tiangong-2 (天宫二号) and started independent flight on an orbit of around 390 kilometers above the Earth on 21 June 2017. The cargo spacecraft will conduct the third refuelling of the Tiangong-2 space lab before returning to Earth.

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China Space Station is expected to be completed in 2022. In 2019, a Long March-5B rocket is scheduled to launch the first module, the Tianhe-1 core module. Zhang Bainan, chief engineer, China Academy of Space Technology (CAST), explains the progress so far and the path forward.
Credit: China Central Television (CCTV)

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Tianhe-1, the core module of China’s next manned space station, has been recently unveiled in Tianjin Aerospace Town. Zhang Hao, senior designer, space station system, China Academy of Space Technology (CAST), explains: “This is the core module of the space station. It's the master control section of the station, which controls the flight posture, dynamic property, and its manned environment. The large column-like thick part is where astronauts work and conduct experiments. The thinner part is where astronauts sleep and wash themselves, it’s built for astronauts to have normal daily life”. China plans to start assembling the station in space in 2020. The space station is scheduled to become fully operational around 2022.
Credit: China Central Television

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The Tiangong-2 space station ended its mission by re-entering the atmosphere over the South Pacific Ocean, on 19 July 2019, at around 13:06 UTC. Tiangong-2 (天宫二号 or “Heavenly Palace 2”) was launched on 15 September 2016 by a Long March-2F launch vehicle. On 18 October 2016, astronauts Jing Haipeng and Chen Dong entered Tiangong-2 for a 30-day mission, the longest Chinese human space mission to date.

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The Long March-5B Y2 launch vehicle launched the Tianhe Core Module, the first component of the China Space Station, from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site, Hainan Province, China, on 29 April 2021, at 03:23 UTC (11:23). The Tianhe Core Module (天和核心舱) is the first component of the China Space Station (中国空间站), China’s new space station intended for long-term habitation.
Credit: China Central Television (CCTV)/China National Space Administration (CNSA).
Tianhe launch
Tianhe-1 launch
Tianhe Core Module launch
China Space Station launch

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The Long March-7 Y3 launch vehicle launched the Tianzhou-2 cargo spacecraft from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site, Hainan Province, China, on 29 May 2021, at 12:55 UTC (20:55 China Standard Time). Tianzhou-2 (天舟二号) will autonomously dock to the Tianhe Core Module (天和核心舱), the first and main component of the China Space Station (中国空间站).
Credit: China Central Television (CCTV)
Long March-7 Y3 launches Tianzhou-2

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The Tianzhou-2 cargo spacecraft autonomously docked to the Tianhe Core Module on 29 May 2021, at 21:01 UTC (30 May, at 05:01 China Standard Time). Tianzhou-2 (天舟二号) is the first spacecraft to dock to the Tianhe Core Module (天和核心舱), the first and main component of the China Space Station (中国空间站). Tianzhou-2 delivered supplies for astronauts, extravehicular activity (EVA) space suits, space station equipment and propellant.
Credit: China Central Television (CCTV)/China National Space Administration (CNSA)

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Members of the Tianzhou-2 mission describe the docking between the Tianzhou-2 cargo spacecraft and the Tianhe Core Module as “China’s first fast automatic rendezvous and docking”. The Tianzhou-2 cargo spacecraft autonomously docked to the Tianhe Core Module on 29 May 2021, at 21:01 UTC (30 May, at 05:01 China Standard Time). Tianzhou-2 (天舟二号) is the first spacecraft to dock to the Tianhe Core Module (天和核心舱), the first and main component of the China Space Station (中国空间站).
Credit: China Central Television (CCTV)/China National Space Administration (CNSA)

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On 16 June 2021, the China Manned Space Agency revealed the crew of the Shenzhou-12 spaceflight mission schedueled to be launched to the China Space Station on 17 June, 01:22 UTC (09:22 China Standard Time). The main crew of Shenzhou-12: astronauts Nie Haisheng (commander), Liu Boming and Tang Hongbo. The backup crew: astronauts Zhai Zhigang, Wang Yaping and Ye Guangfu. Shenzhou-12 (神舟十二号) will transport the first three astronauts to the China Space Station (中国空间站), informally known as Tiangong (天宫, Heavenly Palace).

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The China Manned Space Agency revealed the mission objectives for the Shenzhou-12 mission on16 June 2021. Shenzhou-12 (神舟十二号) will be launched on 17 June, 01:22 UTC (09:22 China Standard Time), to the first three astronauts to the China Space Station (中国空间站), informally known as Tiangong (天宫, Heavenly Palace). Shenzhou-12 will dock with the Tianhe core module (天和核心舱), with Tianzhou-2 (天舟二号) cargo spacecraft already docked.

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The Shenzhou crewed spacecraft is designed to carry three astronauts and consists of the orbital module, the reentry capsule and the service module (propellant module). The spacecraft weights about eight tons and has a length of nearly nine meters. The Shenzhou-12 (神舟十二号) spacecraft will launch astronauts Nie Haisheng (commander), Liu Boming and Tang Hongbo to the China Space Station (中国空间站), informally known as Tiangong (天宫, Heavenly Palace), on 17 June, 01:22 UTC (09:22 China Standard Time).

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The Long March-2F Y12 launch vehicle is an improved model, designed for “high reliability and safety” according to the chief designer Rong Yi. Long March-2F Y12 is scheduled to launch the Shenzhou-12 crewed spacecraft from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, Gansu Province, China, on on 17 June 2021, at 01:22 UTC (09:22 China Standard Time).

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The Long March-2F Y12 launch vehicle launched the Shenzhou-12 crewed spacecraft from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, Gansu Province, China, on 17 June 2021, at 01:22 UTC (09:22 China Standard Time). Shenzhou-12 (神舟十二号) transports the first three astronauts, Nie Haisheng (commander), Liu Boming and Tang Hongbo, to the China Space Station (中国空间站), informally known as Tiangong (天宫, Heavenly Palace).
Credit: China Central Television (CCTV)/China National Space Administration (CNSA)

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The Shenzhou-12 fast docking process explained by the team of designers.
Shenzhou-12 (神舟十二号) transports the first three astronauts, Nie Haisheng (commander), Liu Boming and Tang Hongbo, to the China Space Station (中国空间站), informally known as Tiangong (天宫, Heavenly Palace).

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The Shenzhou-12 crewed spacecraft autonomously docked to the Tianhe core module on 17 June 2021, at 07:54 UTC (15:54 China Standard Time). Shenzhou-12 (神舟十二号) transports the first three astronauts, Nie Haisheng (commander), Liu Boming and Tang Hongbo, to the China Space Station (中国空间站), informally known as Tiangong (天宫, Heavenly Palace). The Tianhe core module (天和核心舱) is the first and main component of CSS, with the Tianzhou-2 (天舟二号) cargo spacecraft already docked.

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