Tiangong 1
Encyclopedia
Tiangong-1 is a Chinese
space laboratory module, and is an experimental testbed to demonstrate the rendezvous
and docking capabilities needed to support a space station
complex. Launched unmanned aboard a Long March 2F/G
rocket on 29 September 2011, it is part of the Tiangong program, which aims to place a larger, modular
station into orbit by 2020. Tiangong-1 will be deorbited in 2013, and replaced over the following decade by the larger Tiangong-2 and Tiangong-3 modules.
Tiangong-1 is expected to be visited by three Shenzhou missions during its two-year operational lifetime. The first of these, the unmanned Shenzhou 8
, successfully docked with the module in November 2011, while the manned Shenzhou 9
and 10
missions are expected to launch in 2012.
(CNSA), Tiangong-1 is an 8.5 metric tons (18,739.3 lb) "space-laboratory module", capable of supporting the docking of manned and autonomous spacecraft.
In 2008, the official website of the CMSEO posted a brief description of Tiangong-1, along with its larger successor modules, Tiangong-2 and Tiangong-3. A model of the space station was revealed in the Chinese Lunar New Year celebration program on CCTV on 25 January 2009.
On 29 September 2008, Zhang Jianqi , Vice Director of the China Manned Space Engineering Office
(CMSEO), declared in an interview with China Central Television
(CCTV) that Tiangong-1 would be launched in 2010 or 2011. Xinhua later stated that Tiangong-1 would be launched in late 2010, and declared that the renovation of ground equipment was in progress. However, the launch did not ultimately take place until 2011.
By mid-2011, the construction of Tiangong-1 was complete, and testing its electronic, mechanical and thermal properties was underway. Testing was also conducted on the Long March 2F
carrier rocket on which Tiangong-1 would be launched; technicians undertook particularly extensive safety tests on the rocket in August and September 2011, following the launch failure of a Long March 2C
rocket on 18 August.
Structurally, Tiangong-1 is divided into two primary sections: a resource module, which mounts its solar panels and propulsion systems, and a larger, habitable experimental module.
and cooking equipment for the manned missions will likely be provided by the docked Shenzhou spacecraft, rather than being integrated into the Tiangong module itself. Similarly, one member of the module's three-person crew will likely sleep in the Shenzhou spacecraft, preventing overcrowding.
on 23 July, successfully passing a launch rehearsal test on 17 August. However, following the failed launch of a Long March 2C
rocket in August 2011, the launch was postponed. Following an investigation into the August launch failure, Tiangong-1's launch was rescheduled for late September 2011, partly to coincide with the Chinese National Day
on 1 October.
at Jiuquan in preparation for the rescheduled launch attempt. The launch occurred at 13:16 UTC on 29 September, successfully placing Tiangong-1 into low Earth orbit
. Chinese television broadcast the launch animation accompanied by an instrumental version of the American patriotic song America the Beautiful
, a choice of music for which it later offered no explanation.
, to prepare the module for future orbital docking operations. On 10 October, Tiangong-1 released its first orbital photo, showing a view of its outer hull and satellite relay antenna.
in Inner Mongolia
. In the aftermath of the mission, the CNSA reported that Tiangong-1's systems were in optimal condition.
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
space laboratory module, and is an experimental testbed to demonstrate the rendezvous
Space rendezvous
A space rendezvous is an orbital maneuver during which two spacecraft, one of which is often a space station, arrive at the same orbit and approach to a very close distance . Rendezvous requires a precise match of the orbital velocities of the two spacecraft, allowing them to remain at a constant...
and docking capabilities needed to support a space station
Space station
A space station is a spacecraft capable of supporting a crew which is designed to remain in space for an extended period of time, and to which other spacecraft can dock. A space station is distinguished from other spacecraft used for human spaceflight by its lack of major propulsion or landing...
complex. Launched unmanned aboard a Long March 2F/G
Long March 2F
The Long March 2F , also known as the CZ-2F, LM-2F and Shenjian, is a Chinese manned orbital carrier rocket, part of the Long March rocket family. Designed to launch manned Shenzhou spacecraft, the Long March 2F is a man-rated two-stage version of the Long March 2E rocket, which in turn was based...
rocket on 29 September 2011, it is part of the Tiangong program, which aims to place a larger, modular
Modular design
Modular design, or "modularity in design" is an approach that subdivides a system into smaller parts that can be independently created and then used in different systems to drive multiple functionalities...
station into orbit by 2020. Tiangong-1 will be deorbited in 2013, and replaced over the following decade by the larger Tiangong-2 and Tiangong-3 modules.
Tiangong-1 is expected to be visited by three Shenzhou missions during its two-year operational lifetime. The first of these, the unmanned Shenzhou 8
Shenzhou 8
Shenzhou 8 was an unmanned flight of China's Shenzhou program, launched on October 31, 2011 UTC, or November 1 in China, by a modified Long March 2F rocket which lifted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center....
, successfully docked with the module in November 2011, while the manned Shenzhou 9
Shenzhou 9
Shenzhou 9 is a planned, probably manned flight of China's Shenzhou program that is scheduled for launch in March or April 2012, following the unmanned Shenzhou 8 mission in 2011. The aim of the mission will be to perform a docking with the Tiangong 1...
and 10
Shenzhou 10
Shenzhou 10 is a planned manned spaceflight of China's Shenzhou program that is scheduled for launch in 2012. This conventional Shenzhou will carry a crew of three astronauts...
missions are expected to launch in 2012.
Design and development
According to the China National Space AdministrationChina National Space Administration
The China National Space Administration is the national space agency of the People's Republic of China responsible for the national space program. It is responsible for planning and development of space activities...
(CNSA), Tiangong-1 is an 8.5 metric tons (18,739.3 lb) "space-laboratory module", capable of supporting the docking of manned and autonomous spacecraft.
In 2008, the official website of the CMSEO posted a brief description of Tiangong-1, along with its larger successor modules, Tiangong-2 and Tiangong-3. A model of the space station was revealed in the Chinese Lunar New Year celebration program on CCTV on 25 January 2009.
On 29 September 2008, Zhang Jianqi , Vice Director of the China Manned Space Engineering Office
China Manned Space Engineering Office
The China Manned Space Engineering Office provides engineering and administrative functions for the human spaceflight effort of the People's Republic of China. CMSEO is a special department within the General Armaments Department of the People’s Liberation Army...
(CMSEO), declared in an interview with China Central Television
China Central Television
China Central Television or Chinese Central Television, commonly abbreviated as CCTV, is the major state television broadcaster in mainland China. CCTV has a network of 19 channels broadcasting different programmes and is accessible to more than one billion viewers...
(CCTV) that Tiangong-1 would be launched in 2010 or 2011. Xinhua later stated that Tiangong-1 would be launched in late 2010, and declared that the renovation of ground equipment was in progress. However, the launch did not ultimately take place until 2011.
By mid-2011, the construction of Tiangong-1 was complete, and testing its electronic, mechanical and thermal properties was underway. Testing was also conducted on the Long March 2F
Long March 2F
The Long March 2F , also known as the CZ-2F, LM-2F and Shenjian, is a Chinese manned orbital carrier rocket, part of the Long March rocket family. Designed to launch manned Shenzhou spacecraft, the Long March 2F is a man-rated two-stage version of the Long March 2E rocket, which in turn was based...
carrier rocket on which Tiangong-1 would be launched; technicians undertook particularly extensive safety tests on the rocket in August and September 2011, following the launch failure of a Long March 2C
Long March 2C
Long March 2C , or Chang Zheng 2C as in Chinese pinyin is a member of the Long March 2 rocket family, an expendable launch system operated by the People's Republic of China. This vehicle was developed by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, and the first launch occurred on November 26,...
rocket on 18 August.
Structure
Tiangong-1 has a pressurised habitable volume of approximately 15 cubic metre, and uses passive APAS-type docking connectors.Structurally, Tiangong-1 is divided into two primary sections: a resource module, which mounts its solar panels and propulsion systems, and a larger, habitable experimental module.
Onboard facilities
Tiangong-1's experimental module is equipped with exercise gear and two sleep stations. The interior walls of the spacecraft have a two-color paint scheme – one color representative of the ground, and the other representative of the sky. This is intended to help the astronauts maintain their orientation in zero gravity. High-resolution interior cameras will allow manned missions to be closely overseen from the ground, and the two sleep stations have individual lighting controls. Toilet facilitiesSpace toilet
A space toilet, or zero gravity toilet, is a toilet that can be used in a weightless environment. In the absence of weight the collection and retention of liquid and solid waste is directed by use of air flow. Since the air used to direct the waste is returned to the cabin, it is filtered...
and cooking equipment for the manned missions will likely be provided by the docked Shenzhou spacecraft, rather than being integrated into the Tiangong module itself. Similarly, one member of the module's three-person crew will likely sleep in the Shenzhou spacecraft, preventing overcrowding.
Background
Tiangong-1 was originally intended to be launched in August 2011, and was delivered to the Jiuquan Satellite Launch CenterJiuquan Satellite Launch Center
Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center is a People's Republic of China space vehicle launch facility .The facility is part of Dongfeng Aerospace City , and is located in the Gobi desert, Ejin Banner , Alxa League , Inner Mongolia, situated about 1,600 km from Beijing.- History :It was founded in 1958,...
on 23 July, successfully passing a launch rehearsal test on 17 August. However, following the failed launch of a Long March 2C
Long March 2C
Long March 2C , or Chang Zheng 2C as in Chinese pinyin is a member of the Long March 2 rocket family, an expendable launch system operated by the People's Republic of China. This vehicle was developed by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, and the first launch occurred on November 26,...
rocket in August 2011, the launch was postponed. Following an investigation into the August launch failure, Tiangong-1's launch was rescheduled for late September 2011, partly to coincide with the Chinese National Day
National Day of the People's Republic of China
The National Day of the People's Republic of China is celebrated every year on October 1. It is a public holiday in the People's Republic of China to celebrate their national day.The PRC was founded on October 1, 1949 with a ceremony at Tiananmen Square...
on 1 October.
Launch
On 20 September 2011, the spacecraft was again rolled out to Pad 1 of the South Launch SiteJiuquan Launch Area 4
Launch Area 4 , also known as the South Launch Site or SLS, is the only active Long March launch complex at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre. It consists of two launch pads; SLS-1 and SLS-2. SLS-1 has been the launch site for all missions conducted as part of the Shenzhou programme, including...
at Jiuquan in preparation for the rescheduled launch attempt. The launch occurred at 13:16 UTC on 29 September, successfully placing Tiangong-1 into low Earth orbit
Low Earth orbit
A low Earth orbit is generally defined as an orbit within the locus extending from the Earth’s surface up to an altitude of 2,000 km...
. Chinese television broadcast the launch animation accompanied by an instrumental version of the American patriotic song America the Beautiful
America the Beautiful
"America the Beautiful" is an American patriotic song. The lyrics were written by Katharine Lee Bates and the music composed by church organist and choirmaster Samuel A. Ward....
, a choice of music for which it later offered no explanation.
Orbital transfers and testing
On 2 October 2011, Tiangong-1 completed the second of two orbital transfer maneuvers, reaching an apogee altitude of 362 kilometres (224.9 mi). This was the precursor to a week-long program of orbital testing, conducted from the Beijing Aerospace Command and Control CenterBeijing Aerospace Command and Control Center
Beijing Aerospace Command and Control Center is a command center for the Chinese space program which includes the Shenzhou missions. The space center is supervised and managed by the government of the People's Republic of China. BACCC's primary functions include supervision, telemetry, tracking...
, to prepare the module for future orbital docking operations. On 10 October, Tiangong-1 released its first orbital photo, showing a view of its outer hull and satellite relay antenna.
Autonomous orbital docking
The unmanned Shenzhou 8 mission successfully docked with Tiangong-1 on 2 November 2011 GMT, marking China's first orbital docking. Shenzhou 8 undocked from Tiangong-1 on 14 November, before successfully completing a second rendezvous and docking, so as to test the reusability of the docking system. Shenzhou 8 deorbited on 17 November 2011, and landed safely in Siziwang BannerSiziwang Banner
Siziwang Banner is a banner in Inner Mongolia, China, which is located about north of Hohhot, the capital of Inner Mongolia.-Administration:...
in Inner Mongolia
Inner Mongolia
Inner Mongolia is an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China, located in the northern region of the country. Inner Mongolia shares an international border with the countries of Mongolia and the Russian Federation...
. In the aftermath of the mission, the CNSA reported that Tiangong-1's systems were in optimal condition.
Manned missions
The manned Shenzhou 9 and Shenzhou 10 missions are planned to dock with Tiangong-1 in 2012.Future applications
Tiangong-1 is intended as a testbed for key technologies that will be used in China's future modular space station, which is planned for launch in 2020. Furthermore, modified versions of Tiangong-1 will be used as robotic cargo spacecraft to resupply this station. The launch mass of the Tiangong-1-derived cargo spacecraft is expected to be around 13 metric tons (28,660.1 lb), with a payload of around 6 metric tons (13,227.7 lb).Visibility from Earth
Tiangong-1 may be visible to the naked eye only at lower latitudes, since it has an orbit inclination of 42 degrees.See also
- Chinese space programChinese space programThe space program of the People's Republic of China is directed by the China National Space Administration . Its technological roots can be traced back to the late 1950s, when the People's Republic began a rudimentary ballistic missile program in response to perceived American threats...
- International Space StationInternational Space StationThe International Space Station is a habitable, artificial satellite in low Earth orbit. The ISS follows the Salyut, Almaz, Cosmos, Skylab, and Mir space stations, as the 11th space station launched, not including the Genesis I and II prototypes...
- Tiangong-2, a planned successor to Tiangong-1, launching in 2013
- Tiangong-3, a larger successor module, launching in 2015