Tiangong 2
Encyclopedia
Tiangong-2 will be a Chinese
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...

 space laboratory, part of the Project 921-2
Project 921-2
Tiangong is a space station program of the People's Republic of China, with the goal of creating a third generation space station, comparable to MIR. This program is autonomous and unconnected to any other international space-active countries...

 space station
Space station
A space station is a spacecraft capable of supporting a crew which is designed to remain in space for an extended period of time, and to which other spacecraft can dock. A space station is distinguished from other spacecraft used for human spaceflight by its lack of major propulsion or landing...

 program. Tiangong-2 is expected to be launched by the China National Space Agency in 2013 to replace the prototype module Tiangong-1, which was launched in September 2011.

Development

In 2008, the China Manned Space Engineering Office
China Manned Space Engineering Office
The China Manned Space Engineering Office provides engineering and administrative functions for the human spaceflight effort of the People's Republic of China. CMSEO is a special department within the General Armaments Department of the People’s Liberation Army...

 published a brief description of Tiangong-2 and its successor Tiangong-3, indicating that several manned spaceships would be launched to dock with Tiangong-2. According to Chinese officials, Tiangong-2 is scheduled to be launched around 2013. Unmanned cargo spacecraft will dock with the station, allowing for resupply and long-term human habitation.

Specifications

The expected specifications of Tiangong-2 will be as follows:
  • Crew size: 3, with 20 days of life support resources.
  • Length: 14.4 metres (47.2 ft).
  • Maximum diameter: 4.2 metres (13.8 ft).
  • Mass: 20000 kilograms (44,092.5 lb).
  • Docking ports: 2.

See also

  • Chinese space program
    Chinese space program
    The space program of the People's Republic of China is directed by the China National Space Administration . Its technological roots can be traced back to the late 1950s, when the People's Republic began a rudimentary ballistic missile program in response to perceived American threats...

  • Project 921-2
    Project 921-2
    Tiangong is a space station program of the People's Republic of China, with the goal of creating a third generation space station, comparable to MIR. This program is autonomous and unconnected to any other international space-active countries...

  • Tiangong-1, the predecessor to Tiangong-2, launched in 2011
  • Tiangong-3, a larger successor module, planned for launch in 2015
  • Shenzhou program
    Shenzhou program
    The Shenzhou program is a manned spaceflight initiative by the People's Republic of China. The program put the first Chinese citizen, Yang Liwei, into orbit on 15 October 2003....

  • International Space Station
    International Space Station
    The International Space Station is a habitable, artificial satellite in low Earth orbit. The ISS follows the Salyut, Almaz, Cosmos, Skylab, and Mir space stations, as the 11th space station launched, not including the Genesis I and II prototypes...

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