 A rendering ofTianzhou 1 (left) docked toTiangong 2. | |
| Station statistics | |
|---|---|
| COSPAR ID | 2016-057A |
| SATCATno. | 41765 |
| Crew | 2 (fromShenzhou 11) 19 October – 17 November 2016 |
| Launch | 15 September 2016, 14:04:09UTC |
| Carrier rocket | Long March 2F/G |
| Launch pad | Jiuquan,LA-4 / SLS-1 |
| Reentry | 19 July 2019 |
| Mass | 8,600 kg (19,000 lb) |
| Length | 10.4 m (34 ft) |
| Diameter | 3.35 m (11.0 ft) |
| Pressurisedvolume | 14 m3 (490 cu ft) |
| Periapsis altitude | 369.65 km (229.69 mi) |
| Apoapsis altitude | 378.4 km (235.1 mi) |
| Orbital inclination | 42.79° |
| Orbital speed | 7.68 km/s (4.77 mi/s) |
| Orbital period | 92.0 minutes |
| Days occupied | 26 days 11.3 hours |
| Statistics as of 22 September 2016 References:[1][2][3][4][5][6] | |
| Configuration | |
.png) Plan diagram ofTiangong 2 withsolar panels extended | |
| Tiangong-2 | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Simplified Chinese | 天宫二号 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 天宮二號 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Literal meaning | Celestial Palace-2 or Heavenly Palace-2 | ||||||||||||||||||
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| Space Laboratory | |||||||||||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 空间实验室 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 空間實驗室 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Literal meaning | Space Laboratory | ||||||||||||||||||
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Tiangong-2 (Chinese:天宫二号;pinyin:Tiāngōng èrhào;lit. 'Heavenly Palace 2') was a Chinese space laboratory and part of theProject 921-2space station program. Tiangong-2 was launched on 15 September 2016.[7] It was deorbited as planned on 19 July 2019.[8]
Tiangong-2 was neither designed nor planned to be a permanent orbital station; rather, it was intended as a testbed for key technologies used in theTiangong station (Chinese large modular space station) of which the first module launched on 29 April 2021[9] and the remaining modules of which launched in 2022.[10]
TheChina Manned Space Engineering Office published a brief description of Tiangong-2 and its successorTiangong-3 in 2008, indicating that at least two crewed spaceships would be launched to dock with Tiangong-2.[2]
Tiangong-2 was originally expected to be launched by theChina National Space Agency (CNSA) by 2015[11] to replace the prototype moduleTiangong-1, which was launched in September 2011.[12] In March 2011, Chinese officials stated that Tiangong-2 was scheduled to be launched by 2015.[11][13] An uncrewed cargo spacecraft will dock with the station,[11] allowing for resupply.[14]
In September 2014, its launch was postponed to September 2016.[15] Plans for visits in October 2016 by the crewed missionShenzhou 11 and the uncrewed resupply craftTianzhou were made public.[16] The station was successfully launched fromJiuquan aboard aLong March 2F rocket on 15 September 2016.[17]Shenzhou 11 (Only Expedition) successfully docked with Tiangong-2 on 19 October 2016.[citation needed]
Aboard the Shenzhou 11, launched fromJiuquan Satellite Launch Center in theGobi desert, were CommanderJing Haipeng andChen Dong who formed the inaugural crew for the space laboratory.[18] It was China's first crewed mission for more than three years.
During the 30 days the two astronauts were aboard Tiangong-2, they conducted a number of scientific and technical experiments on the physiological effects ofweightlessness, tests on human-machine collaboration on in-orbit maintenance technology and released an accompanying satellite successfully. Accompanying photography and near-distance fly-by observation were also carried out. They collected abundant data and made some achievements in programs ofgamma-ray burst polarimeter, space coldatomic clock and preparation of new materials.[19]
Shenzhou 11 separated from the orbiting Tiangong-2 space laboratory on 17 November 2016, reentry module landed successfully at the expected site in centralInner Mongolia Autonomous Region at about 13:59 Beijing Time.[19]
On 22 April 2017, the cargo vesselTianzhou-1 successfully docked with Tiangong-2 marking the first successful docking and refuelling with the orbiting space laboratory.[20] It subsequently performed a second docking and refueling on 15 June 2017. On 12 September 2017, Tianzhou-1 performed the third and final docking and refuelling with Tiangong-2, with what is termed a fast docking which took 6.5 hours, rather than 2 days, to complete.[21]
In June 2018, Tiangong-2 performed orbital maneuvers lowering the orbit to 292 × 297 kilometers, likely in preparation for deorbiting. It then returned to its usual orbit.[22][23]
In July 2019, theChina Manned Space Engineering Office announced that it was planning to deorbit Tiangong-2 in the near future, but no specific date was given.[24] The station subsequently made a controlled reentry on 19 July 2019 and burned up over theSouth Pacific Ocean.[25]
The dimensions of Tiangong-2 were:
Tianhe is the core module of theChinese space station. The core module and its other parts launched between 2021 and 2022.
China often chooses poetic names for its space projects, such as Chang'e – after the moon goddess – for its lunar probes; its rocket series, however, is named Long March, in tribute to communist history. The space station project is currently referred to as Tiangong, or "heavenly palace".
China is ready to carry out a multiphase construction program that leads to the 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.
Media related toTiangong-2 at Wikimedia Commons| Components |
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Notes: † Never inhabited due to launch or on-orbit failure, ‡ Part of theAlmaz military program, ° Never inhabited, lacks docking mechanism. | |||||||||
