By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept

Science, Space & Technology

Space Science Digital
Contact
Search
  • Home
  • Environment

    200-foot asteroid 2023 DZ2 to pass closer than moon

    March 17, 2023

    Navigate a new Mars map of craters and volcanoes

    April 6, 2023

    Martian moon Deimos image reveals far side for 1st time

    April 25, 2023

    Jammed radar boom on Jupiter-bound Juice probe finally freed

    May 12, 2023
  • Space Flight

    Hubble Space Telescope images are being spoiled by satellite trails

    March 2, 2023

    Crew Dragon splashes down to close out 157-day mission

    March 12, 2023

    Rocket Lab’s Electron deploys two Capella radar satellites

    March 17, 2023

    NASA’s Artemis I mission has ended as Orion splashed down on Earth

    December 11, 2022
  • Cosmology

    Why are small black holes more dangerous than big ones?

    February 14, 2023

    Want Artemis to Succeed? Virtual Reality Can Help

    March 9, 2023

    Planets Might Protect their Water Until their Star Settles Down

    March 17, 2023

    Hypervelocity Stars Teach us About Black Holes and Supernovae

    March 23, 2023
  • Latest
  • About Us
Reading: China to expand its space station, international astronaut selection underway
Share
Aa
Space Science DigitalSpace Science Digital
  • Environment
  • Space Flight
  • Cosmology
  • Technology
Search
  • Home
  • Categories
    • Environment
    • Technology
    • Cosmology
    • Space Flight
  • More Foxiz
    • Blog Index
    • Forums
    • Complaint
    • Sitemap
Follow US
© 2023 Space Science Digital. All Rights Reserved.
Space Science Digital > Blog > News > China to expand its space station, international astronaut selection underway
News

China to expand its space station, international astronaut selection underway

By Jayden Hanson February 28, 2023 5 Min Read
Share


HELSINKI — China is planning to expand its Tiangong space station with a multi-functional module to enhance its capabilities.

China completed the construction of the three-module Tiangong space station last November, realizing a plan first approved in 1992. 

The operational phase of the station began with a first crew handover late last year. China plans to keep Tiangong permanently inhabited for at least a decade with crews of three spending six months at a time in orbit.

Already though, new plans are emerging. “We will launch the expansion module of the space station at an appropriate time to further expand the size of the space station and enhance its capacity,” Ji Qiming, assistant to director of the China Manned Space Engineering Office (CMSEO), told CCTV Feb. 24.

The expansion module appears to have superseded earlier an apparent plan to send up duplicates of the existing three, roughly 20-metric-ton modules.

The multi-functional expansion module will host six docking ports and turn the T-shaped Tiangong into a cross-shaped configuration.

👀 The China Space Station will be expanded, but instead of duplicating the three current modules: Tianhe-1, Wentian and Mengtian, a multi-functional module with 6 docking ports will be added, an exhibition at the National Museum of China shows. https://t.co/u6QfEvQP9n pic.twitter.com/PbM0WDxDWD

— China ‘N Asia Spaceflight 🚀🛰️🙏 (@CNSpaceflight) February 24, 2023

The added ports will provide redundancy and allow more spacecraft to dock at Tiangong than present. This would also help facilitate plans to allow commercial spacecraft and tourist visits to the orbital outpost.

Ji discussed the expansion plan with Chinese state media at an exhibition to mark three decades of China’s human spaceflight program. He also revealed progress on China’s plans to land astronauts around the end of the decade.

Tianhe, the space station core module, was the first piece of the station to be launched back in April 2021. It provides the main propulsion and life support systems and crew quarters for the astronauts on Tiangong and carries a docking hub to facilitate the arrival of spacecraft and further modules.  

Images from facilities at the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST), the maker of China’s space station modules, suggested that backup or engineering models had been developed and could be readied for use in orbit. 

The smaller, multi-functional module resembles some outward design features of Tianhe but would not require all of the core module’s systems and capabilities to be replicated. Its docking ports would however still allow for the arrival of new experiment modules to expand further.

The country will also launch a co-orbiting optical telescope module, named Xuntian, in 2024. It will be capable of docking with Tiangong for repairs, maintenance, refueling and upgrades.

In an adjacent development, CMSEO officials revealed that it is preparing for international visits to Tiangong.

“We are about to start selecting international astronauts to send to our space station and carry out scientific experiments together,” Chen Shanguang, a deputy chief designer of China’s human spaceflight program, told CCTV.

“Coming to China’s space station and taking a Chinese rocket to space requires familiarity with China’s spacecraft. This may have to wait until they arrive in China so that our instructors can train them,” Chen said.

The move is part of China’s plans to use Tiangong to boost its international space cooperation and soft power.

Many countries have proposed sending astronauts to visit Tiangong, according to Chen, who did not name specific states. 

The European Space Agency will not be sending its astronauts, however, despite earlier training exchanges with China. ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher said in January that the agency had neither the budget nor the political green light for participating in the Chinese space station.

Meanwhile experiments selected by a joint program between the CMSA and the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) could begin flying to Tiangong this year.

Related



TAGGED: astronaut, China, expand, International, selection, space, Station, underway

Sign Up For Daily Newsletter

Be keep up! Get the latest breaking news delivered straight to your inbox.
[mc4wp_form]
By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.
Jayden Hanson February 28, 2023
Share this Article
Facebook Twitter Email Copy Link Print
Leave a comment Leave a comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!

[mc4wp_form]

HOT NEWS

Hubble Space Telescope images are being spoiled by satellite trails

Space Flight
March 2, 2023

Is that this black gap jet making stars explode?

Again to Article Listing Greater than twice the anticipated quantity of novae have been discovered…

October 27, 2024

NASA Says Spacecraft Crash Test Successfully Changes Asteroid’s Orbit

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — A spacecraft that plowed into a small, harmless asteroid millions…

October 11, 2022

World-Saving Spacecraft Passes Test

NASA says its DART spacecraft successfully shifted the path of an asteroid. For us earthlings,…

October 11, 2022

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

Proposed CASTOR Area Telescope Waits on Authorities

The proposed Canadian led Cosmological Superior Survey Telescope for Optical and uv Analysis, generally referred to by its acronym CASTOR,…

News
October 27, 2024

Dwelling (Alone) on Mars: Actor Daniel Stern on main NASA in ‘For All Mankind’

If there's certainly a multiverse the place in each attainable end result occurs, then in a type of universes Marv…

News
December 23, 2023

China Spacewalk: Photo voltaic Panel Restore Check

Picture credit score: China Nationwide Area Administration (CNSA)/China Central Tv (CCTV) The primary extravehicular exercise of the Shenzhou-17 mission was…

News
December 23, 2023

Watch large loop of plasma dance above the solar in gorgeous video

Miguel Claro is an expert photographer, writer and science communicator primarily based in Lisbon, Portugal, who creates spectacular pictures of…

News
December 23, 2023
We use our own and third-party cookies to improve our services, personalise your advertising and remember your preferences.
  • Jobs Board
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Exclusives
  • Learn How
  • Support
  • Solutions
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Editorial Policy
  • Marketing Solutions
  • Industry Intelligence

Follow US: 

Space Science Digital

Welcome to spacescience.digital, A source for the latest news and developments in the exciting field of space science. Our blog covers a wide range of topics, from the latest space missions and discoveries to updates on technology and scientific breakthroughs. We are passionate about sharing the wonders of the universe with our readers and providing them with engaging and informative content. Join us on this fascinating journey as we explore the mysteries of space and the frontiers of human knowledge.

© 2024 Space Science Digital. All Rights Reserved.

Removed from reading list

Undo
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?