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The Chinese space agency CAST revealed in May the plan to double the Tiangong space station, increasing from 70 to 198 tons with six cross-shaped modules and 15 years of guaranteed operation, while the International Space Station is heading for deorbiting in 2030.
The Tiangong space station currently has three T-shaped modules and routinely houses three astronauts, with capacity for six during crew rotations.
According to the South China Morning Post, the expansion begins in 2027 and expands Tiangong into a cruciform arrangement.
According to CAST (China Academy of Space Technology), the new multifunctional module will have six docking ports.
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According to the announcement, the goal is to receive international missions and double the scientific capacity in orbit.
In other words, China is preparing Tiangong to be the only permanent station in orbit after the ISS retirement in 2030.
On the other hand, the first unmanned flight of the new Mengzhou spacecraft is already scheduled for the end of 2026.
Tiangong will expand from three to six modules with 198 tons and 15 years of operation
The current three modules total 70 tons: Tianhe (core), Wentian (main laboratory), and Mengtian (secondary laboratory).
In comparison with the ISS, which weighs 420 tons, Tiangong is still six times smaller.
According to CAST, the new multifunctional module will be added in 2027 as the central port.
According to the schedule, two more scientific modules will be docked by 2030.
Therefore, the station will reach a total mass of 198 tons and span 24 meters between the tips of the solar panels.
As reported by Xinhua, the expansion uses the Long March 5B rocket, capable of carrying 25 tons to low orbit.
NASA has already contracted SpaceX to deorbit the International Space Station in 2030
NASA signed a $843 million contract with SpaceX in 2024 to develop the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle.
According to NASA, the ISS will be pushed for controlled reentry into the Pacific Ocean in 2030.
In comparison, the CSS (Tiangong) has just received authorization from the Chinese government to operate until 2042.
According to the European Space Agency, most ISS partners are already studying future collaboration with Tiangong.
On the other hand, the United States has legal restrictions (the Wolf Amendment, from 2011) that prohibit direct cooperation between NASA and CAST.
As reported by Bloomberg, this vacuum opens space for Russia, India, and Pakistan to approach the Chinese station.
The Tiangong space station already receives candidates from Pakistan, Hong Kong, and Macau
In October 2024, CAST announced the selection of foreign astronauts for missions starting in 2026.
According to the program, the first candidates are from Pakistan, Hong Kong, and Macau.
According to Reuters, applications from Thailand, Belarus, and Indonesia have also been received.
First, candidates go through 11 stages of selection in Chinese military hospitals.
Second, the training takes place in Beijing and lasts 18 months.
Subsequently, each foreign astronaut will stay between 30 and 60 days in orbit.
- Current modules: Tianhe, Wentian, Mengtian (70 tons total)
- New module: multifunctional with six docking ports
- Total target mass: 198 tons by 2030
- Estimated lifespan: 15 years from 2027
- Foreign astronauts: selection started with Pakistan, Hong Kong, Macau
Brazil follows the Chinese space race through the Brazilian Space Agency
According to the Brazilian Space Agency (AEB), the country has had a cooperation agreement with CAST since 1988.
In other words, the CBERS (China-Brazil Earth Resources Satellite) partnership has already delivered six monitoring satellites.
According to AEB, there is an open discussion about including a Brazilian astronaut in a Tiangong mission.
Therefore, the Alcântara Launch Center remains a strategic asset for SpaceX and a bilateral agreement with the USA.
As reported by CGTN, China and Brazil are also evaluating joint manufacturing of geostationary satellites.
Similarly, INPE is studying a partnership for biological experiments aboard Tiangong.
The cost of the Tiangong program is lower than the ISS and paves the way for commercial use
According to estimates by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Tiangong cost about $8 billion.
In comparison, the ISS has already consumed $150 billion among the USA, Russia, Europe, Canada, and Japan since 1998.
In other words, China built its station for 5% of the ISS budget.
According to CAST, Tiangong is already opening a commercial front for private pharmaceutical experiments.
Subsequently, the company Galactic Energy is negotiating tourist flights for up to four civilians aboard the Chinese station.
On the other hand, SpaceX and Axiom Space plan private stations that will inherit part of the market.
The CPG collection covers the space race between China, the USA, and private companies
CPG recently published about SpaceX’s expansion in Brazil, in the site’s collection.
Subsequently, the site also published an analysis of the Tianwen-2 mission from China, dedicated to asteroid sample collection.
In other words, the space race is no longer a USA-Russia duel but includes China, India, and the United Arab Emirates.
On the other hand, there are still those who point out that the American technical advantage persists in the reusable launchers segment.
Next steps for CAST and the schedule until the final cross configuration
First, CAST will launch the multifunctional module at the end of 2027 with the Long March 5B rocket.
Next, two scientific modules will be docked in 2028 and 2029.
Finally, in 2030 the station reaches its final cruciform configuration with 198 tons.
However, some question whether the schedule will withstand budgetary pressure.
Nevertheless, CAST argues that the Tiangong program is a national priority. Still, the expansion will turn the pointer of the global space game.
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