A slide showing potential expansion of the Chinese Space Station presented at IAC 2018.
7.10.2018
A presentation on the Chinese Space Station at IAC 2018 in Bremen, Germany on October 4.Gbtimes/Andrew Jones
China could extend plans for its space station by adding further modules to the planned orbital complex, a senior space official has stated.
Yang Hong, from the Institute of Manned Space System Engineering under the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST), a major spacecraft maker, stated that the basic T-shape for the planned three-module Chinese Space Station (CSS) could be extended to add three more modules and greatly increase the overall mass of the orbital outpost.
Yang presented the characteristics and functions of the 'Tiangong' (Heavenly Palace) space station at the International Astronautical Congress in Bremen, Germany on October 4.
By expanding the facility, Yang stated the CSS can go from around 70 metric tonnes to 160-180 metric tonnes in mass.
Such an expansion could only come should China first succeed with the original plan.
China is currently aiming to launch the first CSS module, Tianhe, in 2020, once the Long March 5 and 5B launch vehicles are proven ready. Tianhe could already have been launched in 2018, but for the failure of the second Long March 5 launch, which prompted a redesign of its first stage engines.
Two experiment modules will be orbited and attached around 2021 and 2022, following intervening cargo and crewed missions.
A slide detailing characteristics of the Chinese Space Station presented at IAC 2018.
In a question and answer session, Yang refused to offer a time frame for the possible expansion. It is also unclear how the mass reaches 180 metric tonnes, with each module having a mass of around 20 tonnes, though docked Shenzhou crewed and Tianzhou cargo craft would also add to the overall mass.
Yang, answering questions through an interpreter, also declined to make a comparison with the International Space Station (ISS), which is led by the United States with Russia, Japan and the European Space Agency (ESA) as major contributors.
Construction of the ISS in low Earth orbit began in 1998 and is now more than 400 tonnes. It could remain in operation until 2030.
The International Space Station is featured in this image photographed by an STS-132 crew member on board the Space Shuttle Atlantis after the station and shuttle began their post-undocking relative separation.
Open space station
In 2016 China signed an agreement with the United Nations to open the CSS to international partners, especially developing nations, thereby allowing for science experiments to be sent to the station.
Introducing Yang's presentation, Li Ming, vice president of CAST, said that the CSS was, "Not just for Chinese, but for all humankind".
The agreement also opens the door for partners to send astronauts or even add modules to the CSS.
Funding, resources and priorities will likely be key to a decision to expand, as China also has plans for robotic and eventual human exploration of the Moon.
A view of the Tianhe living compartment, with five Control Moment Gyroscopes (CMGs) visible.
The basic three modules will already be joined by a co-orbiting 'optical module', named Xuntian, which will be a Hubble-class space telescope in terms of aperture and capable of surveying the heavens. It will be able to dock with the CSS for maintenance, repairs and refuelling.
China has launched two Tiangong space labs as stepping stones for a larger space station, testing rendezvous and docking, life support systems and medium duration stays, and refuelling and cargo
Tiangong-1, launched in 2011, made a much-hyped uncontrolled reentry into the Earth's atmosphere in April this year, following a loss of contact with, and therefore control of, the spacecraft in March 2016.
Tiangong-2, launched in 2016, is scheduled for a controlled deorbiting in July 2019.
The first docking of Tiangong-2 space lab and the approaching Tianzhou-1 cargo spacecraft in April 2017.
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