Why is no one talking about China's space station anymore? Because they're embarrassed to, as the gap with the International Space Station is too big! China's space station isn't "out of the news," it's just that it has shifted from "boldly building" to "steadily operating."
When it comes to China's space station, people seem to have suddenly gone quiet. There used to be constant news coverage, but now the headlines are all about Mars exploration or lunar sample collection. The space station has faded from the spotlight. Many people think that compared to the International Space Station, China's space station lags far behind in technology and scale, making it embarrassing to mention. Actually, this view is quite common, but it's a misunderstanding of space projects. Since its launch in 2011, until its completion in 2022, the space station was heavily promoted, with each module launch being broadcast live nationwide. When the Long March 5 rocket took off, the whole country was watching the screen. Shenzhou spacecrafts were launched one after another, astronauts went out for spacewalks, experiments started, and the media reported daily, giving the impression that China had caught up with the world overnight. But now? After completion, it has entered a routine operation phase, no longer constantly hyping up hot topics, but instead focusing on work and achieving results. It's like when a house is built, you don't keep inviting guests to show it off, but instead move in and live normally, fixing things occasionally, and only those inside know how solid it feels.
The Tiangong space station has been in orbit for over 1,500 days. From the launch of the Tianhe core module in 2021 to the arrival of the Wentian and Mengtian experimental modules, the entire three-module configuration has a total mass close to 100 tons, with an orbital height maintained around 400 kilometers and attitude control precise to the centimeter level. Seven astronaut crews have taken turns staying in orbit, each staying for about six months, completing rotations, maintenance, and experiment tasks. Take 2025 as an example: the Shenzhou 20 mission was launched in late April, led by Chen Dong, who successfully docked and celebrated the National Day while in orbit. Shortly after, in November, the Shenzhou 21 mission followed, achieving the seventh space rendezvous. In terms of supply, the Tianzhou cargo spacecraft regularly delivers supplies, including experimental equipment, food, and oxygen, ensuring basic self-sufficiency. These activities aren't widely publicized, but the data is there: in the first half of this year alone, 58 projects were conducted, with over 26,000 experiments, 27 types of downsampled materials, and a data volume of 110 terabytes.
For example, in material experiments, the space station's containerless furnace can reach temperatures of 3,100 degrees Celsius, allowing for the smelting of tungsten alloys, which is impossible in ground laboratories due to gravity interference. Astronauts operate in orbit, and the melting process data is transmitted in real-time, leading directly to more than 500 SCI papers and 150 patents. Some technologies have already been applied, such as new alloys used in high-speed rail components, which are heat-resistant and corrosion-resistant, benefiting the aerospace industry. Now, there are over 500 commercial aerospace companies, covering the entire domestic supply chain from chips to propellants. Biological experiments are also impressive; rice seeds are cultivated under microgravity, changing the cell division pattern, and analyzing genetic changes helps agriculture develop new varieties. The carrying capacity of the space station's experimental cabinets is twice that of the International Space Station, with high space utilization. The internal design is like a well-finished apartment, with hidden wiring and pipelines, unlike some older stations that look messy.
The space station doesn't just operate on its own; it collaborates with 17 countries, with 50 countries signing space agreements. In February 2025, China and Pakistan signed an agreement for astronaut selection and training. The Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission will select candidates nationwide, conducting preliminary selections locally and final selections in Beijing. After the final selection, two Pakistani astronauts will train with the Chinese team, expected to send one to space in 2026, serving as a payload specialist for a short stay, participating in material experiments, etc.
Now, comparing it to the International Space Station, we can see the differences clearly. The International Space Station was built starting in 1998 and has been operating for 27 years, with a designed lifespan of 15 years, extended twice, now operating 10 years beyond its intended life. Its total weight is 420 tons, but almost half of that is trusses and solar panels, leaving actual usable space smaller than Tiangong. It has many problems, with wall cracks and air leaks being the biggest issues. Although Russia's section has had leaks repaired, the隐患 remains. American astronauts frequently check for losses, and exceeding two pounds of air loss is normal. Components are severely aged, solar panels degrade quickly, and temperature cycles cause the sunny side to reach 120 degrees Celsius, while the shaded side drops to -150 degrees Celsius, accelerating material fatigue. In 2025, the U.S. and Russia directly addressed these issues in a joint meeting. NASA plans to retire the station by 2030, disposing of debris in the Pacific Ocean to avoid random fragments. Russia wants to withdraw in 2028, while the U.S. is dragging the partners to 2031, but budget pressure is huge, with maintenance costs reaching tens of billions annually. After retirement, the U.S. has no ready replacement; commercial space stations like Axiom's plan are still in demonstration stages, with a module launching in 2025, but crewed demonstrations will take several years. NASA's law also prohibits cooperation with China, so astronauts can't go to Tiangong, which is awkward.
The International Space Station is a patchwork of multiple countries, with modules from the U.S., Russia, Europe, and Japan, making coordination difficult and upgrades slow, like an old truck that can run with repairs but can't keep up with the new era. Tiangong was designed from scratch, compact and modular, 100% domestically produced, low operating costs, and a service life of at least ten years. Smaller in tonnage but higher in efficiency, the astronauts' living area is comfortable, the experimental area is independent, and resource recycling rates are high. China's space program doesn't chase hype, but focuses on big achievements, with fast technology conversion and real economic benefits.
People not talking about the space station isn't because there's no news, but because the operational period is too stable, unlike the construction phase which was so lively. But this stability hides true skills. Aerospace is a long-distance race, not a sprint. China's space station proves with facts that building is easy, but operation is hard, and we have succeeded. In the coming years, experimental projects will exceed 1,000, and international cooperation will expand further. After Pakistan's astronauts go up, Egypt and Thailand may follow. The retirement of the International Space Station will make Tiangong even brighter. Then, when people talk about it, it won't be "too big a gap," but "how amazing it is."
Original article: www.toutiao.com/article/1848553904881728/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.