Leonard David's INSIDE OUTER SPACE

Prototype of the Tianhe core module. China’s space station is expected to be operational around 2022. CCTV/Screengrab

The China Manned Space Agency has released technical specifications of the core module of the country’s future manned space station. Tianhe — or Harmony of Heavens — will have three parts: the connecting section, life-support and control section, and resources section.

Details on the Chinese space facility were issued during the Fifth Manned Space Conference, which opened on Tuesday in Xi’an, Shaanxi province.

The Tianhe core module for China’s Space Station undergoes ground testing.
Credit: CCTV/Screengrab

As reported by Ecns.cn, the official English-language website of China News Service (CNS), the module will be equipped with three docking hatches reserved for visiting manned or cargo spacecraft and two berthing locations used to connect with space laboratories. There will also be a hatch for astronauts’ extravehicular activities.

Core module

The core module will be nearly 55 feet (16.6 meters) long with a diameter of 14 feet (4.2 meters). This module is central to the space station’s operations, as astronauts will live there and from inside the module control the entire station. The module will also be capable of hosting scientific experiments.

China’s medium-size space station for the 2020’s is depicted in this artwork.
Credit: CNSA

Chinese engineers are building a prototype of the core module, and construction of the core module is scheduled to start around year’s end, according to a China Manned Space Agency statement.

China will begin assembling the orbiting complex around 2020, according to government plans. First, a Long March 5B heavy-lift rocket will orbit the station’s core module, reportedly in the 2019-2020 time period. Next, about four manned spaceflights will be made to send astronauts to assemble the station.

Multi-module makeup

The space station is expected to be fully operational around 2022. It is set to operate for about 15 years, according to the China Academy of Space Technology, developer of the station.

Credit: CSIS

In 2024, it will become the world’s only space station if the United States-led International Space Station is retired that year as planned.

The multi-module station, named Tiangong, or Heavenly Palace, will be composed mainly of three parts: a core module attached to two space labs and have a combined weight of more than 90 metric tons.

The station will be able to carry more than 10 tons of scientific and experimental equipment. It will have 26 internal payload cabinets, 67 external hatches designed to dock with medium-sized extravehicular apparatuses and four external points for towing large instruments.

Cooperation

In late May, the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs and China Manned Space Agency jointly published their first announcement inviting scientists from around the world to submit their research proposals for a chance to conduct their own experiments on the Chinese space station.

China also has announced that it welcomes foreign astronauts on its space station and has trained two European astronauts in sea survival, which is necessary for the space station mission, Ecns.cn reports.

ESA astronaut Matthias Maurer jumping from a Chinese Shenzou capsule during sea survival training in August 2017. ESA astronauts Samantha Cristoforetti and Matthias joined Chinese colleagues in Yantai, China.
An ESA astronaut to fly on China’s space station is in play.
Credit: ESA–Stephane Corvaja, 2017

New astronauts

“Currently, we are making steady progress in the space station research and construction. Key technological breakthroughs have been made in producing the three modules including the core capsule and the Long March-5B carrier rocket. Selection of the third batch of reserve astronauts is also underway as scheduled,” said Hao Chun, director of China Manned Space Engineering Office, in a recent CCTV interview.

“We will complete on-orbit construction of the space station around 2022 as planned. It will be a national orbital space lab in the long run after being completed,” Hao said.

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