China’s manned space program was approved in 1992 with a three-phase strategic plan, and the construction of a space station is the ultimate goal of that plan. In September 2010, China’s manned space station project was officially launched. On April 29, 2021, the Tianhe Main Module was successfully launched into orbit by a Long March-5B launch vehicle from Wenchang Space Base in Hainan.

As planned, before 11 launches and orbits, China completed assembly and began official operation of the space station. After the construction and operation of the Tiangong space station is completed, China will become the third country after the Soviet Union and the United States to independently build and operate a space station.

In a research article published by Space: Science and TechnologyExperts from the Spacecraft Systems Engineering Institute of the Chinese Academy of Space Technology present the design of the Tiangong Space Station, outline the technical specifications of the Tiangong Space Station, and discuss the future applications and development of the space station.

First, the authors present a diagram of the Tiangong space station design system. Generally, the Tiangong Space Station has a T-shaped configuration, with the main module Tianhe in the middle and two experimental modules named Wentian and Mengtian joined on the two sides, respectively.

The main Tianhe module consists of three parts: the node cabinet, the life control cabinet, and the resource cabinet. The total axis length is 16.6 m and the maximum diameter is 4.2 m. The Wentian experiment module consists of three parts: the working cabinet, the airlock cabinet and the welding cabinet. Its axis length is 17.9 m and its maximum diameter is 4.2 m.

In addition, there is a small robotic arm, experimental platform and lattice structure outside the module. The Mengtian experiment module consists of four parts: a working cabin, a cargo locked cabin, a cargo cabin and a resource cabin. Its axis length is 17.9 m and its maximum diameter is 4.2 m.

Two deployable open payloads are mounted outside the payload bay, deployed to orbit after launch. In addition, the Tiangong space station has three docking flaps: front (mainly for docking with manned spacecraft and Xuntian Space Telescope), rear (mainly for docking with cargo ship) and radial (mainly for docking with manned spacecraft) ).

Regarding the functional design of the system, the control and propulsion system includes the torque control gyroscopes, the reaction control system, the refueling system and the Hall electric propulsion system. The energy system is equipped with a large area of ​​flexible solar panels. The manned environmental system has full regenerative and non-regenerative life support systems.

Robotic arms are a large robotic arm with seven degrees of freedom and a small seven degrees of freedom robotic arm with a wealth of sensors for visual measurement, joint torque, and end effector force. Non-ship operations are supported by Tianhe main module node cabin and Wentian experimental module airlock cabin. Living space for the crew is provided with an area of ​​at least 110 m2.³.

The authors then summarize the advanced specifications. In general, the technical characteristics of the Tiangong Space Station are mainly reflected in four aspects:

1. Advanced design concept. China is adopting a unified design structure and technical system for the Tiangong space station, according to which the GNC, power, information, thermal and manned environment systems of all three modules will be interconnected to work together. And the space station effectively integrates inter-module resources, increasing the overall strength and reliability of the system.
2. Highly new technologies. The space station’s space robotic weapons, physico-chemical regenerative life support, and large-area flexible solar arrays are brand new technologies deployed in orbit for the first time in China, with high application complexity and development risk. In addition, the Tiangong space station embodies a high level of intelligence at both the hardware level and the system level.
3. Excellent price-performance ratio. Tiangong Space Station is designed according to China’s national conditions and practical needs, in terms of construction costs and application advantages, it is medium-sized compared to the ISS and Mir. It will also be superior in some aspects such as energy generation efficiency, application supportability, construction roads, supply demand, with more economical and intelligent design and operation.
4. A safe and productive place to live. Tiangong Space Station was designed according to the human concept. The design focuses not only on ensuring the safety and comfort of the crew in orbit, but also on supporting the effective efforts of the crew with intelligence. Source