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|title=Tiangong1|showflag=stp|s=天宫一号|t=天宮一號|p=Tiāngōng yīhào|l=Heavenly Palace-1 or Sky Palace-1|w=T'ien<sup>1</sup>kung<sup>1</sup> i<sup>1</sup>hao<sup>4</sup>|j=Tingung jathou|y=Tyangung yihau|poj=Thian-kong it-hō|gr=Tiangong ihaw |
|title=Tiangong1|showflag=stp|s=天宫一号|t=天宮一號|p=Tiāngōng yīhào|l=Heavenly Palace-1 or Sky Palace-1|w=T'ien<sup>1</sup>kung<sup>1</sup> i<sup>1</sup>hao<sup>4</sup>|j=Tingung jathou|y=Tyangung yihau|poj=Thian-kong it-hō|gr=Tiangong ihaw |
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'''Tiangong-1''' {{zh|s=天宫一号|p=Tiāngōng yīhào|l=Heavenly Palace 1}} is China's first [[space station]],<ref>[http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2011/09/china-major-human-space-flight-milestone-tiangong-1s-launch/ "China launches Tiangong-1 to mark next human space flight milestone"]. [[NASASpaceflight.com]]. 28 September 2011. Retrieved 2011-10-22.</ref> an experimental [[testbed]] to demonstrate [[space rendezvous|orbital rendezvous]] and docking capabilities.<ref name="sdc20110307"/> Launched unmanned aboard a [[Long March 2F|Long March 2F/G]] rocket<ref name="spacedaily1"/> on 29 September 2011,<ref name="chinadaily20110914"/> it is the first operational component of the [[Tiangong program]], which aims to place [[Chinese space station|a larger, modular station]] into orbit by 2020.<ref name=sdc20110307/> Tiangong-1 will be deorbited in 2013,<ref name=FuSpace>[http://www.physorg.com/pdf236401869.pdf China to launch module for future space station] (PDF) [[PhysOrg|PhysOrg.com]]. Retrieved 2011-10-16.</ref> and replaced over the following decade by the larger [[Tiangong-2]] and [[Tiangong-3]] modules. |
'''Tiangong-1''' ({{zh|s=天宫一号|p=Tiāngōng yīhào|l=Heavenly Palace 1}}) is China's first [[space station]],<ref>[http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2011/09/china-major-human-space-flight-milestone-tiangong-1s-launch/ "China launches Tiangong-1 to mark next human space flight milestone"]. [[NASASpaceflight.com]]. 28 September 2011. Retrieved 2011-10-22.</ref> an experimental [[testbed]] to demonstrate [[space rendezvous|orbital rendezvous]] and docking capabilities.<ref name="sdc20110307"/> Launched unmanned aboard a [[Long March 2F|Long March 2F/G]] rocket<ref name="spacedaily1"/> on 29 September 2011,<ref name="chinadaily20110914"/> it is the first operational component of the [[Tiangong program]], which aims to place [[Chinese space station|a larger, modular station]] into orbit by 2020.<ref name=sdc20110307/> Tiangong-1 will be deorbited in 2013,<ref name=FuSpace>[http://www.physorg.com/pdf236401869.pdf China to launch module for future space station] (PDF) [[PhysOrg|PhysOrg.com]]. Retrieved 2011-10-16.</ref> and replaced over the following decade by the larger [[Tiangong-2]] and [[Tiangong-3]] modules. |
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Tiangong-1 will be visited by a series of [[Shenzhou (spacecraft)|Shenzhou]] spacecraft during its two-year operational lifetime. The first of these, the unmanned [[Shenzhou 8]], successfully docked with the module in November 2011,<ref name=ShenzhouDock/><ref name=AFPSecondDock/> while the manned [[Shenzhou 9]] mission docked in June 2012.<ref name=2012Launch1>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-18458544|title=China launches space mission with first woman astronaut|publisher=BBC News|date=16 June 2012}}</ref><ref name=Dock2012/><ref name=June2012>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-18377735|title=China to carry out manned space flight|publisher=BBC News|date=9 June 2012|accessdate=2012-06-10}}</ref> |
Tiangong-1 will be visited by a series of [[Shenzhou (spacecraft)|Shenzhou]] spacecraft during its two-year operational lifetime. The first of these, the unmanned [[Shenzhou 8]], successfully docked with the module in November 2011,<ref name=ShenzhouDock/><ref name=AFPSecondDock/> while the manned [[Shenzhou 9]] mission docked in June 2012.<ref name=2012Launch1>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-18458544|title=China launches space mission with first woman astronaut|publisher=BBC News|date=16 June 2012}}</ref><ref name=Dock2012/><ref name=June2012>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-18377735|title=China to carry out manned space flight|publisher=BBC News|date=9 June 2012|accessdate=2012-06-10}}</ref> |
Revision as of 12:57, 11 November 2012
Template:Contains Chinese text
![]() Plan diagram of Tiangong-1 with its solar panels extended | |
Station statistics | |
---|---|
COSPAR ID | 2011-053A |
SATCAT no. | 37820![]() |
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 | 355 kilometres (221 mi)[5] |
Apoapsis altitude | 362 kilometres (225 mi)[5] |
Orbital inclination | 42 degrees[6] |
Days in orbit | 4708 (as of 19 August) |
Tiangong1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Traditional Chinese | 天宮一號 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Simplified Chinese | 天宫一号 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Literal meaning | Heavenly Palace-1 or Sky Palace-1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Tiangong-1 (Chinese: 天宫一号; pinyin: Tiāngōng yīhào; lit. 'Heavenly Palace 1') is China's first space station,[7] an experimental testbed to demonstrate orbital rendezvous and docking capabilities.[8] Launched unmanned aboard a Long March 2F/G rocket[1] on 29 September 2011,[9] it is the first operational component of the Tiangong program, which aims to place a larger, modular station into orbit by 2020.[8] Tiangong-1 will be deorbited in 2013,[10] and replaced over the following decade by the larger Tiangong-2 and Tiangong-3 modules.
Tiangong-1 will be 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]
Design and development
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.[16]
On 29 September 2008, Zhang Jianqi (张建启), vice-director of the CMSEO, declared in an interview with China Central Television (CCTV)[17] 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.[18] 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,[9] following the launch failure of a Long March 2C rocket on 18 August.
Structure
Tiangong-1 has a pressurised habitable volume of approximately 15 cubic metres (530 cu ft), and uses passive APAS-type docking connectors.[19] 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.[20]
Onboard facilities
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 overseen from the ground, and the two sleep stations have individual lighting controls.[21] 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.[21] Similarly, one member of the module's three-person crew sleeps in the Shenzhou spacecraft, preventing overcrowding.[21]
Mission profile
Background
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.[22] 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,[9][23] Tiangong-1's launch was rescheduled for late September 2011,[24] partly to coincide with the Chinese National Day on 1 October.[25]
Launch
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.[26] The launch occurred at 13:16 UTC on 29 September, successfully placing Tiangong-1 into low Earth orbit.[22] 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.[27]
Orbital transfers and testing
On 2 October 2011, Tiangong-1 completed the second of two orbital transfer maneuvers, reaching an apogee altitude of 362 kilometres (225 mi).[5] 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.[5] On 10 October, Tiangong-1 released its first orbital photo, showing a view of its outer hull and satellite relay antenna.[28]
Autonomous orbital docking
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/29/Tiangong_1_drawing.png/220px-Tiangong_1_drawing.png)
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.[29][30][12] Shenzhou 8 deorbited on 17 November 2011, and landed intact in Siziwang Banner in Inner Mongolia.[31] After the mission, the CNSA reported that Tiangong-1's systems were in optimal condition.[32]
Manned missions
Preparations
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.[33] In January 2012, reports emerged alleging that the American X-37B robotic spaceplane was shadowing Tiangong-1 for surveillance purposes.[34] However, former United States Air Force orbital analyst Brian Weeden later refuted this claim, emphasizing that the X-37B occupied a different orbit to Tiangong-1, and would not be able to closely observe the module.[35]
Shenzhou 9
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.[36] The Shenzhou 9 spacecraft was delivered to Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center for launch preparations on 9 April 2012,[37] while its Long March 2F carrier rocket arrived a month later on 9 May.[38]
Shenzhou 9 launched successfully on 16 June 2012, carrying with it China's first female astronaut, Liu Yang.[13][39][15][40] 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.[41] 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.[42] Shenzhou 9 landed safely in Inner Mongolia on 29 June 2012.[43] In August 2012, Shenzhou 9's crew travelled to Hong Kong to discuss their mission with university students.[44]
Shenzhou 10
A second manned mission, and the final Shenzhou mission to rendezvous with Tiangong-1 before it is deorbited, is planned for June 2013.[45][46]
Future applications
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).[47]
Visibility from Earth
Tiangong-1 may be visible to the naked eye only at lower latitudes, since it has an orbit inclination of 42 degrees.[6][48]
See also
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
References
- ^ a b "China to launch unmanned space module by Sept 30". Spacedaily.com. Retrieved 29 September 2011.
- ^ "Insider: Tiangong 1 to launch in early Sept". Beijing Times. 24 August 2011. Retrieved 1 September 2011.
- ^ 天宫一号任务飞行方案. (PDF, in Chinese). Retrieved on 2011-09-30.
- ^ a b c Xin, Dingding (27 September 2011). "Spacecraft ready to go on mission". China Daily. Retrieved 27 September 2011.
- ^ a b c d "天宫一号成功完成二次变轨" (in Chinese). People's Daily, 1 October 2011. Retrieved 2011-11-21.
- ^ a b Peat, Chris. "Tiangong 1 – Visible Passes". Heavens-Above GmbH. Retrieved 3 October 2011.
- ^ "China launches Tiangong-1 to mark next human space flight milestone". NASASpaceflight.com. 28 September 2011. Retrieved 2011-10-22.
- ^ a b David, Leonard (11 March 2011). "China Details Ambitious Space Station Goals". SPACE.com. Retrieved 9 March 2011.
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.
- ^ a b c "Spacecraft Tiangong-1 launch delayed". China Daily. 2 September 2011. Retrieved 14 September 2011.
- ^ China to launch module for future space station (PDF) PhysOrg.com. Retrieved 2011-10-16.
- ^ a b "Chinese spacecraft dock in orbit". BBC News, 2011-11-02.
- ^ a b "China completes second space docking". AFP via Google, 14 November 2011. Retrieved 2011-11-15.
- ^ a b "China launches space mission with first woman astronaut". BBC News. 16 June 2012.
- ^ a b c "Shenzhou-9 docks with Tiangong-1". BBC. 18 June 2012.
- ^ a b "China to carry out manned space flight". BBC News. 9 June 2012. Retrieved 10 June 2012.
- ^ "天宫一号"空间站已进入初样研制阶段(图)". 25 January 2009.
- ^ "我国将于2010年-2011年发射小型空间站". 29 September 2008.
- ^ "Unmanned space module to be launched in 2010, await space docking". Xinhuanet. 28 February 2009. Retrieved 30 September 2011.
- ^ "China Accelerates Manned Space Program with Tiangong Docking Module and Advanced Shenzhou". AmericaSpace, 23 September 2011. Retrieved 2011-11-03.
- ^ InterSpace News, 29 September 2011. Retrieved 2011-11-03.
- ^ a b c "Living on Tiangong". SpaceDaily.com, 25 October 2011. Retrieved 2011-10-29.
- ^ a b Barbosa, Rui. "China launches TianGong-1 to mark next human space flight milestone". NASASpaceflight.com.
- ^ Moskowitz, Clara. (14 September 2011) MSNBC. Retrieved 2011-09-17. MSNBC. Retrieved on 2011-09-30.
- ^ China Readies for Own Space Station in Test Launch. International Business Times (21 September 2011). Retrieved on 2011-09-30.
- ^ SPACE: ‘Heavenly Palace’ heads into space. Businessday.co.za (21 September 2011). Retrieved on 2011-09-30.
- ^ China set to ‘Leap Forward in Space’ as Tiangong 1 Rolls to Launch Pad. Universe Today (26 September 2011). Retrieved on 2011-09-30.
- ^ Murray, Warren (30 September 2011). "Rocket's red glaring error: China sets space launch to America the Beautiful". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 September 2011.
- ^ "Tiangong 1 releases first photo in space". People's Daily, 12 October 2011. Retrieved 2011-10-18.
- ^ "2nd docking of Tiangong-1 & Shenzhou-8 on schedule". Xinhua, 7 November 2011.
- ^ "Chinese spacecraft Shenzhou-8 disengages from space lab module Tiangong-1". Xinhua, 14 November 2011.
- ^ "Shenzhou 8 Docking Mission Major Step To Space Station, China Says". Huffington Post, 18 November 2011.
- ^ "China plans major effort in pursuing manned space technology". Space Daily, 22 November 2011. Retrieved 2011-11-23.
- ^ "Tiangong-1 orbiter starts planned cabin checks against toxic gas". SpaceDaily, 19 December 2011.
- ^ "US 'space warplane' may be spying on Chinese spacelab". The Register, 6 January 2012. Retrieved 2012-01-13.
- ^ "Expert: U. S. Secret Space Plane Not Likely 'Spying' on China Module". International Business Times, 9 January 2012. Retrieved 2012-01-13.
- ^ "Shenzhou-9 may take female astronaut to space". Space Daily, 14 March 2012. Retrieved 2012-03-22.
- ^ "Shenzhou-9 spacecraft delivered to launch center". China Daily. 9 April 2012. Retrieved 24 April 2012.
- ^ "Launch preps begin for next Chinese human spaceflight". Spaceflight Now. 14 May 2012. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
- ^ "China sends its first female astronaut into space". The Daily Telegraph. 16 June 2012.
- ^ "China to send first woman astronaut Liu Yang into space". BBC. 15 June 2012.
- ^ "China successfully completes space docking". China Daily. 19 June 2012.
- ^ "Video: China's first manual space docking". People's Daily Online, 24 June 2012.
- ^ "China's Shenzhou 9 spacecraft returns to earth". The Guardian. 29 June 2012.
- ^ "Astronauts share feelings with HK students". China Daily. 13 August 2012. Retrieved 1 September 2012.
- ^ "Tiangong 1 Parked And Waiting As Shenzhou 10 Mission Prep Continues". Space Daily. 5 November 2012. Retrieved 9 November 2012.
- ^ "China to launch next manned spaceship in 2013". BBC. 10 November 2012.
- ^ "中国研制新火箭 发射货运飞船". 9 July 2011. Retrieved 22 October 2011.
- ^ Covault, Craig. "Tiangong Roars Aloft Under Watchful Eyes of Party Leadership". AmericaSpace. Retrieved 3 October 2011.
External links