Chinese Space Station
 

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/c...tion-v6hzw5jxz

China launches rocket in quest to build own space station


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China launched the core module of its first permanent space station into orbit today. It plans to build the space station by the end of the next year. Once completed the 66-tonne T-shaped Tiangong station would join the International Space Station (ISS) as the only fully operational station in orbit.

The Chinese station will be a fraction of the mass of the ISS but will mark a significant breakthrough for China, which is not a partner in the ISS consortium but is determined to stake its claims in space by becoming the third country, after the US and the former Soviet Union, to have its own space station.....

The launch of the Tianhe, the 59ft-long core module, is the first of 11 missions that will send up more parts, including two smaller modules, to construct the base. The facility is designed to last ten years and will accommodate three astronauts and up to six during rotation. The astronauts can stay for up to six months.

Before China completes the Tiangong, or the “heavenly palace”, it plans to send up a cargo spacecraft and launch a manned flight.

Shortly after a heavy-lift Long March 5B carrier rocket successfully launched the Tianhe, which means “heavenly harmony”, from the Wenchang spacecraft launch site on the southern island of Hainan at 11.23am, President Xi dispatched his congratulatory note.

“The successful launch of the Tianhe core module means we are entering the implementation phase to build our country’s space station, and it lays a solid foundation for the following work,” Xi said, as he described the mission as an important goal in the country’s space strategy.

China going down the NASA ISS resupply route handing out two competing contracts.

Question - which one is SpaceX Dragon and which one is Boeing Starliner……
The China Space Station is going commercial!

CMSA has awarded commercial supply contracts to two cargo spacecraft designs: one named "QingZhou" by CAS, to be launched on CAS-Space's Kinetica-2 next September, and one named "HaoLong" (in the pics) by AVIC Chengdu who is professional on designing aircraft.

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Good to see some competition popping up. IMO the US lawmakers need a bit of good old stylie cold war pressure to allow their space industry V2 to flourish.

Liftoff! Long March 2F Y19 launches Shenzhou-19 mission from Jiuquan with three astronauts on board.

• CAI Xuzhe (C), Group 02, previously Shenzhou-14
• SONG LingDong, Group 03, first-timer
• WANG HaoZe, Group 03, first female engineer

Shenzhou-19 has docked at the forward port of the China Space Station at ~03:00UTC