Tiangong-2

Tiangong-2 is a Chinese space station that was launched on September 15, 2016, from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center using a Long March 2F rocket. The space station was designed and developed by the China National Space Administration (CNSA) in collaboration with the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST) and the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology (SAST). The primary objective of Tiangong-2 was to test the capabilities of the Chinese space program and to provide a platform for scientific research in microgravity environments, similar to the International Space Station (ISS) and the Mir space station. The space station was also used to test the docking capabilities of the Tianzhou 1 cargo spacecraft, which was launched from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site on April 20, 2017.

Introduction

Tiangong-2 is the second space station launched by China, following the launch of Tiangong-1 in 2011. The space station is equipped with a range of scientific instruments and experimental facilities, including a material science laboratory and a biological laboratory, similar to those found on the European Space Agency's (ESA) Columbus laboratory and the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) on the ISS. The space station is also equipped with a robotic arm developed by the Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT) and the Beijing Institute of Technology (BIT), which is similar to the Canadarm2 robotic arm on the ISS. The space station has a mass of approximately 8,600 kilograms and is 10.4 meters long, with a diameter of 3.35 meters, similar to the Salyut 6 and Salyut 7 space stations.

Design_and_Development

The design and development of Tiangong-2 was a collaborative effort between the CNSA, CAST, and SAST, with contributions from other Chinese universities and research institutions, including the Tsinghua University and the Peking University. The space station was designed to provide a platform for scientific research and technological development, with a focus on space-based applications and space exploration, similar to the NASA's Space Shuttle program and the Russian Federal Space Agency's (Roscosmos) Soyuz program. The space station is equipped with a range of solar panels and fuel cells developed by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC), which provide power and propulsion for the space station. The space station also has a life support system developed by the Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics (BUAA) and the Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics (NUAA), which is capable of supporting two taikonauts for up to 30 days, similar to the Skylab space station.

Launch_and_Operation

Tiangong-2 was launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on September 15, 2016, at 22:04 UTC, using a Long March 2F rocket developed by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT). The space station was placed into a low Earth orbit with an altitude of approximately 380 kilometers and an inclination of 42.8 degrees, similar to the ISS and the Hubble Space Telescope. The space station was operated by the CNSA and the China Space Telescope Development Company (CSTDC), with support from the European Space Agency (ESA) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The space station was used to conduct a range of scientific experiments and technological tests, including the deployment of a 30-meter-long space-based telescope developed by the Purple Mountain Observatory (PMO) and the National Astronomical Observatories of China (NAOC).

Scientific_Experiments

Tiangong-2 was equipped with a range of scientific instruments and experimental facilities, including a material science laboratory and a biological laboratory, similar to those found on the ISS and the Mir space station. The space station was used to conduct a range of scientific experiments, including the study of microgravity effects on plant growth and animal development, similar to the Apollo program and the Soyuz program. The space station was also used to test the effects of space radiation on electronic components and biological systems, similar to the Radiation Assessment Detector (RAD) on the Curiosity rover. The space station was equipped with a space-based telescope developed by the PMO and the NAOC, which was used to conduct astronomical observations and space-based surveys, similar to the Hubble Space Telescope and the Chandra X-ray Observatory.

Deorbiting_and_Re-entry

Tiangong-2 was deorbited and re-entered the Earth's atmosphere on July 19, 2019, at 21:06 UTC, over the Pacific Ocean, similar to the Skylab space station and the Mir space station. The space station was intentionally deorbited using a propulsion system developed by the CALT and the CASIC, which slowed down the space station and caused it to re-enter the atmosphere. The space station broke apart and burned up during re-entry, with some debris potentially surviving and landing in the ocean, similar to the Columbia disaster and the Challenger disaster. The deorbiting and re-entry of Tiangong-2 was monitored by the CNSA and the United States Space Surveillance Network (SSN), with support from the ESA and the NASA. The successful deorbiting and re-entry of Tiangong-2 marked the end of the space station's mission and paved the way for the development of future Chinese space stations, including the Tiangong space station and the Chinese Space Station (CSS).

Category:Space stations