The return of the Shenzhou-17 crew to Earth and the continued work of the Shenzhou-18 astronauts in orbit attract attention to the Chinese space station. The compact research complex with spacious interiors stands in stark contrast not only to the Soviet prototypes, to which it is habitually attributed, but also to the much more modern International Space Station. What are the advantages of the Chinese station over its predecessors and competitors - in our material.
A modular complex similar to an unfinished "World"
On the one hand, half a century has passed since the launch of the first-ever orbital station, the Soviet Salyut (April 1971), and before the ISS became fully operational. On the other hand, it took Russia and the United States two years to bring the international complex into a condition minimally suitable for the life and work of the crew. And now the year 2030 is already looming on the horizon, in which it is planned to complete the operation of the ISS.
According to some observers, the Chinese Tiangong station ("Heavenly Palace"), the first element of which was launched in April 2021, that is, exactly half a century after the launch of the first orbital station in history, "appeared out of nowhere, like the devil out of a snuffbox." But this is not the case.
The modular complex, very similar to the unfinished Mir, became the third phase of the Chinese manned space flight plan Project 921, launched in the 1990s. The first stage included the creation of the Shenzhou manned spacecraft ("Magic Ship"), the second involved the development of docking, spacewalks and long-term stay in orbit using small stations ("laboratories") Tiangong-1 (launched in September 2011) and Tiangong-2 (September 2016 year), as well as the development of the Tianzhou automatic truck ("Heavenly Ship", the first launch in April 2017).
Despite the fact that the Chinese actively developed international cooperation in space and sought to get to the ISS, the Americans have long accused them of stealing "sensitive" technologies, and in 2011 they passed the "Wolf Amendment" through Congress, prohibiting NASA from cooperating with Chinese government agencies.
Anyway, the Chinese seem to have decided: "We will build our own orbital complex, with modules and a manipulator," which we now see.
Three modules and a space telescope flying around them
Currently, Tiangong (without a number) consists of three modules forming a T-shaped structure with a length of 55 meters and a width of 39 meters, orbiting at a height of 400 kilometers and an inclination of 41.5 °.
In July 2022, experimental module No. 1 "Wentian" ("Questioning the Heavens") was docked to the base unit. It duplicates part of the Tianhe's control functions and serves as the station's payload storage facility. There are three more sleeping compartments inside, which allows you to increase the number of the station's crew to six people.
Wentian is designed to conduct research in the field of biology, biotechnology and the effects of variable gravity. Outside, there are attachment points for data collection equipment, to which the crew has access through an airlock and a second manipulator.
In October 2022, the experimental module No. 2 "Mengtian" ("Sky of Dreams") docked to the station. It is the twin of the Wentian module, but without sleeping quarters. Racks inside the hermetic compartments and on the outer surface are capable of placing equipment for studying microgravity and conducting experiments in the field of fluid physics, materials science, gorenje science and fundamental physics. Mengtian is equipped with its own airlock. With its help, astronauts (or a manipulator) can take large-sized experimental equipment into outer space, attach it to the surface of the station and then return it inside.
The Xuntian will operate in the vicinity of the Tiangong, and will be able to dock with the station from time to time for maintenance and modernization by the Tiangong crew. This is considered a great advantage compared to other space telescopes.
The crew is delivered to the station by manned Shenzhou ships, and consumable supplies and additional equipment are delivered by automatic Tianzhou trucks. The ships can dock both to the main axial and to the lower radial docking port of Tianhe.
You can stand on the Tiangong and warm up food in the microwave
The main task of Tiangong is research and experiments. Currently, 23 experimental racks are installed in three modules of the station, as well as another 50 platforms for exposing equipment on the external surface. All this farming allows for a wide range of research covering ecology, biology, physics of liquids and optical materials, etc.
In addition to experiments, astronauts on board the station grow vegetables and fruits and even use a space microwave for fast cooking.
Physical exercises play an important role in maintaining the health of the crew, for which special equipment is available — compact and easily integrated into the design of the station. For example, the Mengtian module has a unique rowing simulator for strength training. With its help, muscle activation in zero gravity is achieved more effectively.
The "wagon aesthetics" of the ISS and Chinese minimalism in the style of "Star Trek"
Comparing the stations from Salyut to the ISS, it can be noted that their design has not undergone significant changes (Skylab stands out in all respects, but it remained only an episode in the history of near-Earth orbit exploration). The Soviet aesthetics (the "wagon" layout of most modules) inherited by the ISS is more reminiscent of a World War II submarine than a spaceship from Star Trek — mostly cramped, the space is cluttered with bales, pipes and wires sticking out everywhere.
From the point of view of a number of experts, "conceptually, the Chinese station has not gone too far from the "World"," however, this is only at first glance. There are only 20 years between the ISS and Tiangong, but the difference in interiors is huge. Progress has not stood still these years.
There are several reasons for this difference.
- Manned ISS units tend to be much shorter and have more connection points (hatches and adapters), which create bottlenecks. For example, the length of the American scientific module Destiny is 8.4 meters, while the length of the "Wentian" and "Mentian" is 18 meters each.
The technologies used on Tiangong are much more modern, the equipment and systems are more compact, lighter and take up less space.
The hardware on the ISS is on public display, and the developers of Tiangong take a different approach: most of the service systems and scientific equipment are placed rationally here and hidden behind wall panels.
The electronics on the Tiangong are connected wirelessly, and did not require laying a maze of cables, as happened on the ISS.
Western experts are wondering if this increases functionality and aesthetics, or do the Chinese simply not want to show what their equipment looks like and what astronauts work with? But the interior of Tiangong has a very attractive and modern look.
The prospects of Tiangong
The Chinese National Space Administration (CNSA) plans to use its orbital station to solve a number of research tasks, including involving foreign partners. Cooperation with ESA is considered a good start (the Wolf Amendment works both ways and does not allow NASA to conduct experiments on Tiangong). Due to the limited size, only Chinese cosmonauts can work at the station so far, although the expansion of the complex may change the situation in the future.
Experts believe that while the ISS is becoming obsolete and will be decommissioned after some time, Tiangong is a modern space station, well equipped, aesthetically attractive and comfortable to live in. This is an important step towards China's transformation into a space superpower with all the necessary attributes, including a manned space station aimed at further development.
Igor Afanasyev
