Tiangong-3 (Chinese: 天宫三号; pinyin: Tiāngōng sānhào; lit. 'Heavenly Palace 3') was a proposed Chinese space station, part of the Tiangong program. The China National Space Agency (CNSA) was originally expected to launch Tiangong-3 around 2015, following the launch of the Tiangong-2 test laboratory, originally planned for 2013.[2] The goals for the Tiangong-2 and Tiangong-3 laboratories were merged, and the latter was therefore not ordered.[3][1] The first module of the third station of the Tiangong program, Tiangong space station, was eventually launched in 2021.
 | |
| Station statistics | |
|---|---|
| Crew | 3 |
| Mission status | Cancelled[1] |
| Mass | 22,000 kilograms (49,000 lb) |
| Length | 18.1 meters (59 ft) |
| Diameter | 4.2 meters (14 ft) |
Development
In 2008, the China Manned Space Engineering Office (CMSEO) published a brief description of Tiangong-2 and Tiangong-3, indicating that several crewed spaceships would be launched in the late 2010s to dock with Tiangong-3.[4] The first Tiangong module, Tiangong-1, was launched in September 2011 and docked with the uncrewed Shenzhou 8 spacecraft in November 2011, marking China's first orbital docking.[5]
Specifications
Tiangong-3 was expected to provide:
- Unaided 40-day habitability for three astronauts.[2]
- Testing for regenerative life-support technology, and verification of methods of orbital replenishment of propellant and air.[2]
- A multi-docking berthing mechanism,[6][clarification needed] allowing up to two spacecraft to dock with it simultaneously.[citation needed]
