Tiangong, the Chinese "heavenly palace" in service next year

Tiangong, the “heavenly palace” in Chinese, is taking shape. On the night of Saturday to Sunday, a Long March 7 rocket launched the cargo ship Tianzhou, loaded with structural elements, which docked with the first module of the future Chinese Space Station (CSS). According to the Chinese space agency, it will take

to complete the assembly in orbit, some 400 km from Earth, Tiangong. CSS is expected to enter service at the end of 2022, ensuring Beijing a permanent human presence in space. This for fifteen years. CSS will perform science experiments in microgravity, develop space technologies, and prepare taikonauts for long-duration flights.

Three Chinese must permanently reside in the "heavenly palace", which will then be the second station to revolve around the Earth, along with the International Space Station. It could cease its activity around 2028 or turn into a hotel to accommodate "orbital tourists". A third station, developed by India, is expected to enter service by 2028-2029. Isro, the Indian space agency, previously plans to launch its first manned flights, with three astronauts aboard the Gaganyaan capsule, in 2022. The proliferation of these projects underlines Europe's lack of manned flights . Within the European Space Agency, it is not excluded that Thomas Pesquet, who has been learning Mandarin for several years, obtains a seat on board Tianzhou, to join the CSS.Not being able to take off from Kourou aboard a European capsule, launched by Ariane 6 ...