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China’s plan to build a space station Beijing Experimental module: CHINA Wenchang The Long March rocket blasted off last month with the Tianhe module Wentian Manned spacecraft Space Launch that will act as the management and control hub of the space station, Centre Solar Tiangong. The Tianhe module has since completed in-orbit performance panels checks. The rst spacecraft to visit the module will be the Tianzhou 2 HAINAN cargo resupply spacecraft.

LONG MARCH 5B ROCKET TIANGONG** SPACE STATION • China’s newest generation of DATE OF COMPLETION launch vehicles. End of 2022 • Carries the Tianhe Core Module, Unmanned cargo the main component of China’s ORBIT HEIGHT Tiangong space station. spacecraft 400km to 450km Experimental module: The Long March 5B rocket lifted DIAMETER PAYLOAD LIFESPAN Mengtian 15 years off from the Wenchang Space 22 tonnes Launch Centre on April 29. 5m (largest carrying capacity of WEIGHT 54m* TIANHE China’s rockets) 90 tonnes SIZE COMPARISON International About the same size as Core module Space Station the former NOV 2011 Soviet/Russian Mir Living space Mir Tiangong Project approval (1986-2001) 50m Space **Means “Heavenly Palace” in Chinese Station NOV 2018 Weight Trials begin 20 tonnes 11 MISSIONS SCHEDULED MAY 2020 (2021-2022) Y-1 completes MOON Shenzhou Tianzhou cargo rst mission LANDING FIRST CREWED MISSION: 4 crewed missions 4 supply missions SHENZHOU-12 (JUNE) 31m 37m 109m FEB 2021 China plans to Y-2 is completed launch a manned Crew Experiments will be lunar mission space station modules conducted to support 118 tonnes 90 tonnes 381 tonnes between 3 3 APRIL 2021 • Tianhe core module China’s long term goal Y-2 moves to 2025 and (will live of space exploration • Mengtian experimental module there for Sources: AFP, CGTN, CHINAPOWER, GLOBAL TIMES PHOTO: EPA-EFE *Height of an launch pad 2030 including mission to 18-storey building • Wentian experimental module six months) the moon and Mars. STRAITS TIMES GRAPHICS: LEE HUP KHENG, LIM KAILI