Tiangong: a cutting-edge orbital laboratory
Tiangong, literally “Heavenly Palace”, entered service in 2021 with the launch of the Tianhe core module. It is designed for crew missions of three astronauts, with stays of six months. The last crew, arriving on October 29, 2024, is continuing research on space biology and innovative materials. This work is crucial to prepare for the next big step: setting foot on the Moon before 2030.
Unlike the ISS, Tiangong is exclusively Chinese, developed without the involvement of other powers. Although it is more modest in size, it nonetheless remains a symbol of autonomy and national strategy. Planned for a duration of approximately 10 years, the station is part of a broader vision of Beijing to assert itself in the conquest of space.
The scheduled end of the ISS: a page that is turning
Around 2030, the ISS, a flagship of international cooperation since 1998, will be decommissioned and directed towards Point Nemo, an isolated area of the Pacific Ocean. After more than 30 years of service, the largest station ever put into orbit will bow out. But this retirement leaves a void: who will take over?
The answer will depend on several players, including Tiangong. Where the ISS symbolized teamwork between several nations, Tiangong reflects another approach: a national project, autonomous, but open to collaborations, particularly with emerging countries. We remember that the United States excluded the Chinese from access to the ISS. It seems that they now have few options to ensure the continuation of space science programs. A new era is dawning.
Heading for the Moon: the rest of Chinese history
Tiangong is just the beginning for China. The country aims to send its first taiconauts to the Moon before 2030, thus consolidating its place in the new space race. In 2025, the Xuntian space telescope will be launched and placed near Tiangong to simplify maintenance. Designed to rival Hubble, it represents a major breakthrough for scientific research.
These projects demonstrate the Chinese method: moving forward at your own pace, with concrete and strategic objectives. Note that Russia has been associated with future lunar exploration programs since the beginning of the Chinese rise.
With Tiangong and its future missions, China is therefore sending a clear message: space is a priority where it intends to play a leading role for the years to come.
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