Station statistics | |
---|---|
Crew | 3 |
Launch | 29 September 2011 [1] [2] at 21:16:03.507 CST |
Launch pad | Jiuquan LA-4/SLS-1 |
Mass | 8,506 kg (18,753 lb) [3] |
Length | 10.4 m (34.1 ft) |
Diameter | 3.35 m (11.0 ft) |
Pressurised volume | 15 m3 (530 cu ft) [4] |
Periapsis altitude | 353 kilometres (219 mi) [5] |
Apoapsis altitude | 364 kilometres (226 mi) [5] |
Orbital inclination | 42.78 degrees [5] |
Orbital period | 91.72 minutes [5] |
Orbits per day | 15.70 [5] |
Orbit epoch | 22 September 2013 [5] |
Days in orbit | 4620 (as of 23 May) |
No. of orbits | 11,390 [5] |
Tiangong1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Traditional Chinese | 天宮一號 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Simplified Chinese | 天宫一号 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Literal meaning | Heavenly Palace-1 or Sky Palace-1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
Tiangong-1 ( Chinese: 天宫一号; pinyin: Tiāngōng yīhào; lit. 'Heavenly Palace 1') is China's first space station, [6] serving as both a manned laboratory and an experimental testbed to demonstrate orbital rendezvous and docking capabilities. [7] Launched unmanned aboard a Long March 2F/G rocket [1] on 29 September 2011, [8] it is the first operational component of the Tiangong program, which aims to place a larger, modular station into orbit by 2020. [7] As of September 2011 [update], Tiangong-1 was projected to be deorbited in 2013, [9] and replaced over the following decade by the larger Tiangong-2 and Tiangong-3 modules. [10]
Tiangong-1 was visited by a series of Shenzhou spacecraft during its two-year operational lifetime. The first of these, the unmanned Shenzhou 8, successfully docked with the module in November 2011, [11] [12] while the manned Shenzhou 9 mission docked in June 2012. [13] [14] [15] A third and final mission to Tiangong-1, the manned Shenzhou 10, docked in June 2013. [16] [17] [18] The manned missions to Tiangong-1 were notable for including China's first female astronauts, Liu Yang and Wang Yaping. [19] [17]
According to the China National Space Administration (CNSA), Tiangong-1 is an 8.5-metric-ton (19,000 lb) "space-laboratory module", capable of supporting the docking of manned and autonomous spacecraft. In 2008, the China Manned Space Engineering Office (CMSEO) released 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. [20]
On 29 September 2008, Zhang Jianqi (张建启), vice-director of the CMSEO, declared in an interview with China Central Television (CCTV) [21] 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. [22] However, the launch did not ultimately take place until 2011.
By mid-2011, the construction of Tiangong-1 was complete, and its systems and thermal properties were undergoing testing. 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, [8] following the launch failure of a Long March 2C rocket on 18 August.
Tiangong-1 has a pressurised habitable volume of approximately 15 cubic metres (530 cu ft), and uses passive APAS-type docking connectors. [23] 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. [24]
Tiangong-1's experimental module is equipped with exercise gear and two sleep stations. [4] 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. [4] High-resolution interior cameras allow manned missions to be closely monitored from the ground, and the two sleep stations have individual lighting controls. [25] Toilet facilities and cooking equipment for the manned missions are provided by the docked Shenzhou spacecraft, rather than being integrated into the Tiangong module itself. [25] Similarly, one member of the module's three-person crew sleeps in the Shenzhou spacecraft, preventing overcrowding. [25]
Tiangong-1 was originally intended to be launched in August 2011, and was delivered to the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on 23 July, successfully passing a launch rehearsal test on 17 August. [26] 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, [8] [27] Tiangong-1's launch was rescheduled for late September 2011, [28] partly to coincide with the Chinese National Day on 1 October. [29]
On 20 September 2011, the spacecraft was again rolled out to Pad 1 of the South Launch Site at Jiuquan in preparation for the rescheduled launch attempt. [30] The launch occurred at 13:16 UTC on 29 September, successfully placing Tiangong-1 into low Earth orbit. [26] 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. [31]
On 2 October 2011, Tiangong-1 completed the second of two orbital transfer maneuvers, reaching an apogee altitude of 362 kilometres (225 mi). [32] This was the precursor to a week-long program of orbital testing, conducted from the Beijing Aerospace Command and Control Center, to prepare the module for future orbital docking operations. [32] On 10 October, Tiangong-1 released its first orbital photo, showing a view of its outer hull and satellite relay antenna. [33]
The unmanned Shenzhou 8 mission successfully docked with Tiangong-1 on 2 November 2011 GMT, marking China's first orbital docking. [11] Shenzhou 8 undocked from Tiangong-1 on 14 November, before successfully completing a second rendezvous and docking, thus testing the reusability of the docking system. [12] [34] [35] Shenzhou 8 deorbited on 17 November 2011, and landed intact in Siziwang Banner in Inner Mongolia. [36] After the mission, the CNSA reported that Tiangong-1's systems were in optimal condition. [37]
In December 2011, the Tiangong-1 module began automated internal checks for toxic gas, to ensure that its interior would be safe for astronauts to enter. [38] In January 2012, reports emerged alleging that the American X-37B robotic spaceplane was shadowing Tiangong-1 for surveillance purposes. [39] However, former United States Air Force orbital analyst Brian Weeden later refuted this claim, emphasizing that the X-37B occupied a different orbit from Tiangong-1, and would not be able to closely observe the module. [40]
In March 2012, it was reported that China had finished the initial crew selection for the Shenzhou 9 mission. Niu Hongguang, the deputy chief commander of the China Manned Space Engineering Project, stated that Shenzhou 9 would dock with Tiangong-1 before August 2012. [41] The Shenzhou 9 spacecraft was delivered to Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center for launch preparations on 9 April 2012, [42] while its Long March 2F carrier rocket arrived a month later on 9 May. [43]
Shenzhou 9 launched successfully on 16 June 2012, carrying with it China's first female astronaut, Liu Yang. [13] [15] [19] [44] The spacecraft docked with Tiangong-1 on 18 June 2012 at 14:07 Beijing time (06:07 GMT; 07:07 BST). [14] After about three hours, when the air pressures inside the two vessels were equalized, mission commander Jing Haipeng entered Tiangong-1. [45] The first docking was entirely computer-controlled, without input from the three astronauts; [14] a second, crew-guided docking was successfully conducted on 24 June 2012 at 12:42 Beijing time. [46] Shenzhou 9 landed safely in Inner Mongolia on 29 June 2012. [47] In August 2012, Shenzhou 9's crew travelled to Hong Kong to discuss their mission with university students. [48]
The manned Shenzhou 10 spacecraft, the final Shenzhou mission to rendezvous with Tiangong-1 before its deorbit, was launched on 11 June 2013. [17] [16] [49] The launch of Shenzhou 10 was originally planned for earlier in the year, but was delayed to allow the mission to incorporate more complex scientific experiments. [50] The mission's crew included China's second female astronaut, Wang Yaping. [17] Shenzhou 10 docked successfully with Tiangong-1 on 13 June. [18]
On 15 June 2013, the Shenzhou 10 crew completed China's first orbital maintenance operation, replacing Tiangong-1's interior cladding. [51] Additional maintenance work was conducted on the space station's seal rings. [51] On 20 June, Wang Yaping delivered a remote video lecture from orbit to students across China, demonstrating physics in microgravity with her colleagues. [52] On 24 June, Chinese President Xi Jinping contacted the astronauts via remote video link to congratulate them. [53] After a series of successful docking tests, Shenzhou 10 undocked and returned safely to Earth on 26 June 2013. [54] With a duration of 15 days, Shenzhou 10 was China's longest manned space mission to date. [55]
Tiangong-1 is intended as a testbed for key technologies that will be used in China's large 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 (29,000 lb), with a payload of around 6 metric tons (13,000 lb). [56] [10]
China is ready to carry out a multiphase construction program that leads to a large space station around 2020. As a prelude to building that facility, China is set to loft the Tiangong-1 module this year as a platform to help master key rendezvous and docking technologies.
Category:2011 in China Category:2011 in spaceflight Category:2011 introductions Category:Chinese space station Category:Space stations Category:Tiangong program
Station statistics | |
---|---|
Crew | 3 |
Launch | 29 September 2011 [1] [2] at 21:16:03.507 CST |
Launch pad | Jiuquan LA-4/SLS-1 |
Mass | 8,506 kg (18,753 lb) [3] |
Length | 10.4 m (34.1 ft) |
Diameter | 3.35 m (11.0 ft) |
Pressurised volume | 15 m3 (530 cu ft) [4] |
Periapsis altitude | 353 kilometres (219 mi) [5] |
Apoapsis altitude | 364 kilometres (226 mi) [5] |
Orbital inclination | 42.78 degrees [5] |
Orbital period | 91.72 minutes [5] |
Orbits per day | 15.70 [5] |
Orbit epoch | 22 September 2013 [5] |
Days in orbit | 4620 (as of 23 May) |
No. of orbits | 11,390 [5] |
Tiangong1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Traditional Chinese | 天宮一號 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Simplified Chinese | 天宫一号 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Literal meaning | Heavenly Palace-1 or Sky Palace-1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
Tiangong-1 ( Chinese: 天宫一号; pinyin: Tiāngōng yīhào; lit. 'Heavenly Palace 1') is China's first space station, [6] serving as both a manned laboratory and an experimental testbed to demonstrate orbital rendezvous and docking capabilities. [7] Launched unmanned aboard a Long March 2F/G rocket [1] on 29 September 2011, [8] it is the first operational component of the Tiangong program, which aims to place a larger, modular station into orbit by 2020. [7] As of September 2011 [update], Tiangong-1 was projected to be deorbited in 2013, [9] and replaced over the following decade by the larger Tiangong-2 and Tiangong-3 modules. [10]
Tiangong-1 was visited by a series of Shenzhou spacecraft during its two-year operational lifetime. The first of these, the unmanned Shenzhou 8, successfully docked with the module in November 2011, [11] [12] while the manned Shenzhou 9 mission docked in June 2012. [13] [14] [15] A third and final mission to Tiangong-1, the manned Shenzhou 10, docked in June 2013. [16] [17] [18] The manned missions to Tiangong-1 were notable for including China's first female astronauts, Liu Yang and Wang Yaping. [19] [17]
According to the China National Space Administration (CNSA), Tiangong-1 is an 8.5-metric-ton (19,000 lb) "space-laboratory module", capable of supporting the docking of manned and autonomous spacecraft. In 2008, the China Manned Space Engineering Office (CMSEO) released 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. [20]
On 29 September 2008, Zhang Jianqi (张建启), vice-director of the CMSEO, declared in an interview with China Central Television (CCTV) [21] 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. [22] However, the launch did not ultimately take place until 2011.
By mid-2011, the construction of Tiangong-1 was complete, and its systems and thermal properties were undergoing testing. 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, [8] following the launch failure of a Long March 2C rocket on 18 August.
Tiangong-1 has a pressurised habitable volume of approximately 15 cubic metres (530 cu ft), and uses passive APAS-type docking connectors. [23] 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. [24]
Tiangong-1's experimental module is equipped with exercise gear and two sleep stations. [4] 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. [4] High-resolution interior cameras allow manned missions to be closely monitored from the ground, and the two sleep stations have individual lighting controls. [25] Toilet facilities and cooking equipment for the manned missions are provided by the docked Shenzhou spacecraft, rather than being integrated into the Tiangong module itself. [25] Similarly, one member of the module's three-person crew sleeps in the Shenzhou spacecraft, preventing overcrowding. [25]
Tiangong-1 was originally intended to be launched in August 2011, and was delivered to the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on 23 July, successfully passing a launch rehearsal test on 17 August. [26] 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, [8] [27] Tiangong-1's launch was rescheduled for late September 2011, [28] partly to coincide with the Chinese National Day on 1 October. [29]
On 20 September 2011, the spacecraft was again rolled out to Pad 1 of the South Launch Site at Jiuquan in preparation for the rescheduled launch attempt. [30] The launch occurred at 13:16 UTC on 29 September, successfully placing Tiangong-1 into low Earth orbit. [26] 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. [31]
On 2 October 2011, Tiangong-1 completed the second of two orbital transfer maneuvers, reaching an apogee altitude of 362 kilometres (225 mi). [32] This was the precursor to a week-long program of orbital testing, conducted from the Beijing Aerospace Command and Control Center, to prepare the module for future orbital docking operations. [32] On 10 October, Tiangong-1 released its first orbital photo, showing a view of its outer hull and satellite relay antenna. [33]
The unmanned Shenzhou 8 mission successfully docked with Tiangong-1 on 2 November 2011 GMT, marking China's first orbital docking. [11] Shenzhou 8 undocked from Tiangong-1 on 14 November, before successfully completing a second rendezvous and docking, thus testing the reusability of the docking system. [12] [34] [35] Shenzhou 8 deorbited on 17 November 2011, and landed intact in Siziwang Banner in Inner Mongolia. [36] After the mission, the CNSA reported that Tiangong-1's systems were in optimal condition. [37]
In December 2011, the Tiangong-1 module began automated internal checks for toxic gas, to ensure that its interior would be safe for astronauts to enter. [38] In January 2012, reports emerged alleging that the American X-37B robotic spaceplane was shadowing Tiangong-1 for surveillance purposes. [39] However, former United States Air Force orbital analyst Brian Weeden later refuted this claim, emphasizing that the X-37B occupied a different orbit from Tiangong-1, and would not be able to closely observe the module. [40]
In March 2012, it was reported that China had finished the initial crew selection for the Shenzhou 9 mission. Niu Hongguang, the deputy chief commander of the China Manned Space Engineering Project, stated that Shenzhou 9 would dock with Tiangong-1 before August 2012. [41] The Shenzhou 9 spacecraft was delivered to Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center for launch preparations on 9 April 2012, [42] while its Long March 2F carrier rocket arrived a month later on 9 May. [43]
Shenzhou 9 launched successfully on 16 June 2012, carrying with it China's first female astronaut, Liu Yang. [13] [15] [19] [44] The spacecraft docked with Tiangong-1 on 18 June 2012 at 14:07 Beijing time (06:07 GMT; 07:07 BST). [14] After about three hours, when the air pressures inside the two vessels were equalized, mission commander Jing Haipeng entered Tiangong-1. [45] The first docking was entirely computer-controlled, without input from the three astronauts; [14] a second, crew-guided docking was successfully conducted on 24 June 2012 at 12:42 Beijing time. [46] Shenzhou 9 landed safely in Inner Mongolia on 29 June 2012. [47] In August 2012, Shenzhou 9's crew travelled to Hong Kong to discuss their mission with university students. [48]
The manned Shenzhou 10 spacecraft, the final Shenzhou mission to rendezvous with Tiangong-1 before its deorbit, was launched on 11 June 2013. [17] [16] [49] The launch of Shenzhou 10 was originally planned for earlier in the year, but was delayed to allow the mission to incorporate more complex scientific experiments. [50] The mission's crew included China's second female astronaut, Wang Yaping. [17] Shenzhou 10 docked successfully with Tiangong-1 on 13 June. [18]
On 15 June 2013, the Shenzhou 10 crew completed China's first orbital maintenance operation, replacing Tiangong-1's interior cladding. [51] Additional maintenance work was conducted on the space station's seal rings. [51] On 20 June, Wang Yaping delivered a remote video lecture from orbit to students across China, demonstrating physics in microgravity with her colleagues. [52] On 24 June, Chinese President Xi Jinping contacted the astronauts via remote video link to congratulate them. [53] After a series of successful docking tests, Shenzhou 10 undocked and returned safely to Earth on 26 June 2013. [54] With a duration of 15 days, Shenzhou 10 was China's longest manned space mission to date. [55]
Tiangong-1 is intended as a testbed for key technologies that will be used in China's large 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 (29,000 lb), with a payload of around 6 metric tons (13,000 lb). [56] [10]
China is ready to carry out a multiphase construction program that leads to a large space station around 2020. As a prelude to building that facility, China is set to loft the Tiangong-1 module this year as a platform to help master key rendezvous and docking technologies.
Category:2011 in China Category:2011 in spaceflight Category:2011 introductions Category:Chinese space station Category:Space stations Category:Tiangong program