Foreign media: China has confirmed plans to expand the Tiangong space station, with its scale set to more than double to meet growing scientific research demands and broaden international cooperation.
Currently, Tiangong and the International Space Station (ISS) are the only two space stations operating in low Earth orbit. NASA plans to retire the ISS by early 2031, using a dedicated deorbit vehicle developed by SpaceX to guide its controlled re-entry into the South Pacific Ocean.
The Tiangong space station currently has a T-shaped configuration. It will first add a fourth multifunctional module connected to the core module Tianhe, transforming into a cross-shaped structure. This new module features multiple docking ports, capable of accommodating two future experimental modules, ultimately forming a six-module configuration with a total mass of approximately 180 tons. However, the official expansion timeline has not yet been announced.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1863907712565256/
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