Tiangong-3 Explained

Station:	Tiangong-3 天宫三号
Station Image:	Tiangong 2 space laboratory model.jpg
Crew:	3
Status:	Cancelled
Length:	18.1m (59.4feet)
Diameter:	4.2m (13.8feet)

Tiangong-3 was a proposed Chinese space station, part of the Tiangong program. The China National Space Agency (CNSA) was originally expected to launch Tiangong-3 around 2015, following the launch of the Tiangong-2 test laboratory, originally planned for 2013.^[1] The goals for the Tiangong-2 and Tiangong-3 laboratories were merged, and the latter was therefore not ordered.^{[2] [3]} The first module of the third station of the Tiangong program, Tiangong space station, was eventually launched in 2021.

Development

In 2008, the China Manned Space Engineering Office (CMSEO) published a brief description of Tiangong-2 and Tiangong-3, indicating that several crewed spaceships would be launched in the late 2010s to dock with Tiangong-3.^[4] The first Tiangong module, Tiangong-1, was launched in September 2011 and docked with the uncrewed Shenzhou 8 spacecraft in November 2011, marking China's first orbital docking.^[5]

Specifications

Tiangong-3 was expected to provide:

• Unaided 40-day habitability for three astronauts.^[1]
• Testing for regenerative life-support technology, and verification of methods of orbital replenishment of propellant and air.^[1]
• A multi-docking berthing mechanism,^[6] allowing up to two spacecraft to dock with it simultaneously.

See also

• Chinese Lunar Exploration Program
• Chinese space program
• International Space Station

Notes and References

1. News: David . Leonard. China Details Ambitious Space Station Goals. 2011-03-09. SPACE.com. 2011-03-11. 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..
2. Web site: 脚踏实地，仰望星空—访中国载人航天工程总设计师周建平. Chinese Government. 2017-04-22.
3. Web site: "天宫二号"总设计师：不再有天宫三号 五年后建成空间站. 2017-11-22. “天宫二号”后，不再开发“天宫三号”，中国将直接进入空间站时代，空间站预计2022年建成 (After "Tiangong-2", no longer develop "Tiangong-3", China will directly enter the era of space station, the space station is expected to be completed in 2022).
4. Web site: future plan of space laboratory system (in Chinese). 2008-09-29. unfit. https://archive.today/20080928025107/http://www.cmse.gov.cn/cha_xtzc/show.php?itemid=120. September 28, 2008.
5. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-15562928 "Chinese spacecraft dock in orbit"
6. News: China unveils rival to International Space Station. 2011-04-27. The Guardian. 2011-04-26. 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".. London. Tania. Branigan. Ian. Sample.