 Rendering of Mengtian lab module | |
| Module statistics | |
|---|---|
| COSPAR ID | 2022-143A |
| Part of | Tiangong space station |
| Launch date | 31 October 2022, 07:37:23UTC[1] |
| Launch vehicle | Long March 5B (Y4) |
| Mass | ~22,000 kg (49,000 lb) in orbit At launch: ~23,000 kg (51,000 lb) |
| Length | 17.9 m (59 ft) |
| Diameter | 4.2 m (14 ft) |
| Pressurisedvolume | 109m3[2] habitable: 32m3[3] |
| Docking withTiangong space station | |
| Docking port | Tianhe Forward |
| Docking date | 31 October 2022, 20:27 |
| Undocking date | 3 November 2022, 00:48 UTC |
| Time docked | 2 days, 4 hours and 21 minutes |
| Berthing atTiangong space station (Relocation) | |
| Berthing port | Tianhe port side Port |
| Berthing date | 3 November 2022, 01:32 UTC |
| Time berthed | 3 years and 23 days |
Mengtian (simplified Chinese:梦天;traditional Chinese:夢天;pinyin:Mèng Tiān;lit. 'Dreaming of the Heavens[4]'), officially theMengtian laboratory cabin module (Chinese:梦天实验舱), is a major module of theTiangong space station. It is the secondLaboratory Cabin Module launched, afterWentian, and the second module to extend the existingTianhe core module of the station.[5] It was launched into orbit from theWenchang Spacecraft Launch Site on 31 October 2022,[6] successfully docking withTianhe forward port at 20:27 UTC on the same day.[7]
On 3 November 2022,Mengtian was relocated to the larboard port at 01:32 UTC[8] by indexing robot arm. On the same day at 07:12 UTC, the crew ofShenzhou 14 opened the hatch and entered the module for the first time.
TheMengtian module is equipped with expanded in-orbit experiment capacity, including eight research cabins.[9] It provides a pressurized environment for researchers to conduct science experiments in freefall or zero gravity which could not be conducted on Earth for more than a few minutes. Experiments can also be placed on the outside of the modules, for exposure to thespace environment,cosmic rays, vacuum, andsolar winds. It has its own airlock.
The axial port ofMengtian is fitted with rendezvous equipment and will first dock to the axial port of Tianhe. A mechanical arm known as the indexing robotic arm, similar to theLyappa arm on the Mir space station, then movesMengtian to a portside port of the TCM.[10][11][12] In addition to this arm used for docking relocation, the Chinarm onTianhe module can also be used as a backup in place of the indexing robot arm.[13][14]
Mengtian also carries a toolbox equipped with a dexterous robotic arm, installed to assist in cargo transfer and payload release,[15] that can be used to launchmicrosatellites,[15][16] and an augmented-reality smart glass to assist astronauts with maintenance.
Similarly to theWentian module,electrical power is provided by two steerablesolar power arrays, which usephotovoltaic cells to convert sunlight into electricity. With a wingspan of over 55 m (180 ft), each array has an energy collection area of 110 m2 (1184 square ft).[17] The energy is then stored to power the station when it passes into the Earth's shadow. Resupply ships will replenish fuel for LCM 2 for station-keeping, to counter the effects of atmospheric drag.
After launch, theMengtian module was inserted into alow Earth orbit with an average altitude of 393 km (244 mi) at anorbital inclination of 42 degrees, centered in the Earth'sthermosphere.[18][19] It successfully docked with the Tianhe core module nearly thirteen hours after launch.
TheShenzhou 14 mission to the space station assisted with setting up theMengtian module in orbit.[20]
The two space labs, Wentian, or Quest for Heavens, and Mengtian, or Dreaming of Heavens
This means the two future science modules, Wentian ("Quest for the heavens") and Mengtian ("Dreaming of the heavens"), cannot dock directly to their planned radial port locations. [...] To account for this, each module will carry a Russian Lyappa robotic arm — like the ones used on Mir for the same purpose — to move the module from the forward port to its respective permanent location on a radial port of Tianhe's docking hub.
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