'New Upgrades': China plans to replace ISS with Tiangong Space Station after 2030
Produced by: Tarun Mishra Designed by: Manoj Kumar
Current Status
China’s Tiangong space station has been operational for nearly two years, having been fully assembled in November 2022 with the addition of the Mengtian science module.
Future Enhancements
During a session at the International Astronautical Congress in Milan on October 17, Li Ming from the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST) announced plans to upgrade Tiangong’s facilities to enhance its capabilities.
Upgrade Phases
The upgrades will occur in phases, starting with modifications to the Tianhe core module to accommodate additional modules, transitioning the station's structure from a T-shape to a cross or Double-T shape.
Expanded Scientific Research
The upgraded design will allow for more scientific experiment racks and larger extravehicular projects, thereby increasing the operational capacity of the Tiangong space station.
New Spacecraft Development
China is developing the Mengzhou spacecraft, which will have two variants: one for lunar missions and another for use with Tiangong. This spacecraft will support three astronauts for lunar missions and up to seven for missions to the space station.
Testing and Launch Plans
A boilerplate test flight of the Mengzhou spacecraft was conducted in 2020, with its full debut flight anticipated around 2027. The spacecraft will launch on a low Earth orbit version of the Long March 10 rocket.
Chinese Space Station Telescope
A significant enhancement will be the addition of the Chinese Space Station Telescope (CSST), also known as Xuntian. This telescope will feature large optical cameras and will be able to dock with Tiangong for maintenance and upgrades.
Credit: NAOC
International Collaboration
China is open to international cooperation regarding Tiangong, welcoming astronauts and collaborative scientific projects based on principles of mutual respect and benefit. The station aims to be operational for at least ten years, potentially filling the gap left by the International Space Station after its decommissioning around 2030.