China has announced plans to double the size of its space station in the coming years, expanding it from three modules to six. This expansion will allow astronauts from other nations to have an alternative platform for near-Earth missions as the current International Space Station (ISS) approaches the end of its lifespan.
The China Academy of Space Technology (CAST), a unit of China’s main space contractor, revealed at the 74th International Astronautical Congress that the operational lifetime of the Chinese space station will be more than 15 years, exceeding the previously announced 10 years.
China’s self-built space station, known as Tiangong or Celestial Palace, has been fully operational since late 2022. It currently hosts a maximum of three astronauts at an orbital altitude of up to 450 km (280 miles). After its expansion to six modules, the mass of Tiangong will be 180 metric tons, which is only 40% of the mass of the ISS. The ISS, which has been in orbit for over two decades, is expected to be decommissioned after 2030, coinciding with China’s goal of becoming a major space power.
China’s aspirations for space diplomacy have faced some setbacks. The European Space Agency (ESA) announced this year that it did not have the budget or political support to participate in Tiangong, abandoning a planned visit by European astronauts. However, China remains determined to excel in the space domain, as multiple countries have reportedly expressed interest in sending their astronauts to the Chinese station.
Tiangong symbolizes China’s growing influence and confidence in its space endeavors, positioning it as a challenger to the United States in the space domain. However, due to U.S. laws, it is banned from collaborating with NASA. In response, Russia, which is part of the ISS, has also expressed plans for its own space station and has suggested the participation of its BRICS partners for the construction of a module.
China’s expansion of its space station and Russia’s pursuit of a separate station reflect the evolving dynamics of space exploration and the emerging space race influenced by geopolitical factors.
