Tiangong 2, the Chinese "heavenly palace" launched in September 2016, is about to be de-orbited, to make a controlled atmospheric re-entry this afternoon.
Controlled destruction for Tiangong 2
The CNSA has announced the imminent end of the second Chinese space station for Friday, July 19. Originally designed for a two-year lifespan, this improved version of Tiangong-1 has finally spent more than 1,000 days in orbit, allowing China to conduct many scientific experiments, but also to host two taikonauts for a duration 29 days in October 2016.
Unlike its predecessor, which caused many setbacks to the Chinese space agency, Tiangong 2 should enjoy a controlled atmospheric re-entry. In its press release, the CNSA announces: a large part of the spacecraft will burn in the Earth's atmosphere and a small amount of debris is expected to fall into the secure maritime area of the South Pacific. "
Indeed, as China lost control of Tiangong-1, which had slowly drifted to a happily secure zone, the atmospheric re-entry of Tiangong-2 is expected to cause a little less headache for mission leaders. as well as to those living near the area concerned.
Its atmospheric reentry is indeed clearly planned, the facilities of the space station have been put out of service and any debris should fall in a vast uninhabited area of the Pacific between Chile and New Zealand. After firing its engines, the station should disintegrate in less than 30 minutes.
The size of this Chinese space laboratory is roughly equivalent to that of a bus with its 10.4 meters long and 3.35 meters wide. Its two modules reach the mass of 8.6 tons, and the machine measures 18.4 meters when its solar panels are deployed. In other words, it is a relatively modest installation if we compare it with the International Space Station.
The Chinese space adventure continues
The Tiangong-2 station will not be the last of the name! In addition to the multitude of projects of the Middle Kingdom in the space field, with missions like Chang'e6 and Chang' e7, or with the idea of building a permanent moon base on the Moon, China is currently working on the development of Tiangong-3.
Once assembled, it should reach a mass of about 60 tons and will be the first major Chinese space station. If the schedule is respected, it should be launched in 2022. After 2024 and the retreat of the ISS, Tiangong-3 should be the only space station in space!
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