Future Modular Space Station
| A diagram of the completed orbital station, shown with a Shenzhou manned spacecraft and a Tiangong-1-derived cargo vessel docked. | ||
| Station statistics | ||
|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2-3 | |
| Launch | ~2020-2022 | |
| Mass | 60,000 kilograms (130,000 lb) | |
| Length | ~20 metres (66 ft) | |
| Diameter | ~3 metres (9.8 ft) | |
Tiangong-3's design will form the basis of a larger, multi-module space station, which China plans to launch in the 2020-2022 timeframe. When complete, the station will have a total mass of approximately 60,000 kilograms (130,000 lb), and will support three astronauts for long-term habitation. The space station will have a design lifetime of up to ten years, and its components and service craft will be largely based on previous Tiangong modules. Its primary components will include:
- A Core Cabin Module (CCM) – based on the Tiangong-3 design and analogous to the Russian Mir Core Module, the 18.1-meter (59 ft) CCM will have a maximum diameter of 4.2 meters (14 ft) and a launch weight of up to 22 tonnes (49,000 lb). It will be launched first, to serve as a docking hub for future modules and resupply spacecraft.
- Two Laboratory Cabin Modules (LCM-1 and LCM-2) – based on Tiangong-2, the two laboratory modules will each be 14.4 meters (47 ft) long, with the same maximum diameter and launch weight as the core module. They will be used to perform scientific research in microgravity.
- A robotic resupply craft – based on the original Tiangong-1 module, the automated cargo spacecraft will have a diameter of 3.35 meters (11.0 ft) and a launch weight of around 13 tonnes (29,000 lb). It will be used to transport supplies and lab facilities to the space station.
- A manned Shenzhou spacecraft will be used to transport crewmembers to and from the space station.
In 2011, Wang Wenbao, the director of the China Manned Space Engineering Office, asked the public to submit suggestions for names and symbols to adorn the space station and its cargo ship. He stated that "the crewed space program should have a more vivid symbol and that the future space station should carry a resounding and encouraging name", insisting that "the public should be involved in the names and symbols as this major project will enhance national prestige, and strengthen the national sense of cohesion and pride".
Read more about this topic: Tiangong 3
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