The crew of the Chinese mission Shenzhou-18, which arrived last April, is preparing to return to Earth on November 3, after six months spent at the Tiangong space station, which orbits at an altitude of about 400 kilometers. The three astronauts were joined and will be transported by members of the Shenzhou-19 mission (Cai Xuzhi, Song Lingdong, and Wang Haozhe), which lifted off on October 29.
While awaiting this delivery, the Chinese space agency shared the first guided tour of Tiangong. In a video lasting less than seven minutes, the space station's three occupants (Yi Guangfu, Li Song, and Li Guangsu) show off the three modules and their equipment.
Room with view
The soundtrack, which sounds like it was taken from a cartoon, is a funny contrast to the seriousness and diligence of the astronauts. The tour begins with the Tianhe Central Module which serves as the space station's control and communications center and living quarters. There is a kitchen equipped with a microwave, refrigerator and water dispenser. The dining room consists of a fairly simple small table.
The adjacent sleeping area has individual berths that each have an opening that allows you to enjoy the land. The visit continues to the Wentian and Mingtian scientific units.
Many scientific experiments
The first hosts biotechnology and life sciences experiments. This is where astronauts grow plants (salads and cherry tomatoes) and raise zebra fish to study their responses to microgravity with the goal of future manned missions to the Moon and Mars.
The Mengtian Unit accommodates a large number of scientific experiments because it has a larger number of facilities. It also includes a loading airlock through which cargo carried by Tianzhou cargo ships that resupply the space station passes. Mengtian also serves as a gym for astronauts.
Tiangong space station expansion
The Tiangong orbital station, which was completed in November 2022, is expected to expand in the coming years. First, the Tianhe module will be modified by adding a multi-function module with six docking ports. Eventually, three additional modules will be added as well as expansion interfaces to Tianhe and Wentian so they can receive external loads.
Li Ming, head of the Science and Technology Committee of the Chinese Academy of Space Technology (CAST), explained at the International Astronautical Congress in Milan that the goal is to change the station from its current “T” shape to the cross shape that was held in Milan ten days ago. CAST designed and manufactured the Tiangong modules.
