Tiangong 1

Tiangong 1 ( Heavenly Palace for Chinese天宫 一号1 ) is the name of the first Chinese space station, which was developed under the program of the same name by the CNSA. Tiangong 1 is used as a space laboratory in the Shenzhou program and is used for the research of coupling maneuvers and long-term stays of astronauts. The launch aboard a Long March 2F launch vehicle took place on 29 September 2011 at 13:16 UTC clock.

Development

In the early 1970s originated in China concrete plans to create a manned outpost in space. After the economic and political barriers, however, it was not until 1992, the breakthrough with the 921 project space program said that specifies China's manned space. Having become the Shenzhou spacecraft successfully launched in the first phase of the project and brought in the first seven missions almost ready for series production, the second phase of the project envisages the construction of a space station. The implementation of successful rendezvous maneuvers and coupling is a prerequisite for such a project in space. By based on the basis of the Russian APAS docking system China already has advanced docking devices.

Until the completion of the powerful carrier rocket Long March 5, which space station modules of more than 20 tons of mass to carry into orbit, the relatively small Tiangong -1 module provides a docking point for Shenzhou spaceships, solar generators for the supply of electrical energy and a limited pressurized living and working area for taikonauts as a prerequisite for the study of long-term stays in space. In Tiangong program so should the necessary foundations for the construction and operation of a space station are collected. Depending on the progress and development of the program launch at least two more Tiangong space laboratory is provided.

Construction

TIANGONG 1 is significant in two components, the greater the bow orbital module and the service module with a smaller diameter at the rear, divided. This is reminiscent of the outer structure of the space laboratory to the first Soviet Salyut space stations. The orbital module has comparable over an androgynous coupling unit with the APAS -89 system for Shenzhou - shuttle vehicles and offers the visiting teams an air-conditioned and equipped with life support systems, living and working area. In the non-accessible service module two photovoltaic arrays with 17 m total span for energy supply, fuel tanks and the engines are housed for position control. The maximum useful life is estimated at around two years.

Limiting factor on the size and uses of the module is the effect of the carrier rocket Long March 2F used, which also serves as a carrier for the Shenzhou spaceships. The diameter of Tiangong 1 is given as 2.8 m, the length of 9 m and the mass of 8.4 tons, which corresponds to the maximum load this launcher. The mass of Tiangong 1 is thus less than half the mass of the first Soviet stations. Moreover, since a large part of the mass ( about 3.5 tons ) is attributable to the service module can be the usable space compare (35 m³) approximately with the size of the Russian Rassvet module of the International Space Station (ISS).

By the use of a service module at the rear eliminates the possibility of using a second axial coupling adapter for shuttle vehicles. Therefore, Tiangong 1 does not allow simultaneous coupling of two Shenzhou spacecraft at the station. The meeting of crews or unloading of an unmanned Shenzhou - transporter by a crew is not possible.

However, these apparent shortcomings are due to another circumstance. Spacecraft with the dimensions of the Tiangong - type to be used in future space stations as a freighter with a total mass of about 13 tons. One required for this launcher is in development. Tiangong thus represents an important development step and not a mere interim solution dar.

Missions

The launch of Tiangong 1 was carried out on 29 September 2011 at 13:16 UTC clock. After an unmanned flight phase to test the flight and control characteristics of the space laboratory served as a docking target for the unmanned Shenzhou 8 transporter After successful pairing tests of the flight characteristics of the unmanned complex were first made ​​and performed remotely controlled maneuvers.

On June 16, 2012 launched the manned spacecraft Shenzhou- 9, its crew two days later walked into the lab after the successful coupling and took in operation. Objective of the mission were mainly system testing. This mainly includes the life support system, communication technology via geostationary relay satellite, Gyroskoptechnik for attitude control, navigation, rendezvous and coupling technique, and the behavior of the coupled system. Sources from the United States assume the station mostly military targets, which will, however, not been established. Besides stood research in microgravity and Earth observations on the plan. These Tiangong 1 is to be equipped among other things with the equipment necessary for the observation of earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanic activity. You may also international projects in cooperation with ESA be performed. After undocking, the crew of Shenzhou 9 started some experiments and tasks will be continued automatically. During the mission, Shenzhou 10 a second time was manned Tiangong 1 from 11 to 23 June 2013.

If successful, will upon completion of the period of use of Tiangong 1 for 20 - designed and 40 -day missions room laboratories Tiangong 2 and Tiangong be started 3 as further experimental space stations, before beginning the construction of a larger and modular space station for 2020Vorlage: future / planned in 5 years.

Visibility

The space station Tiangong -1 can be observed from Earth because of their size with the naked eye and reaches an apparent brightness of up to -2.7 mag. Due to the low inclination of 43 ° it reaches from Germany only a small height above the horizon.