The Tiangong space station (Chinese: 天宫空间站; pinyin: Tiāngōng kōngjiānzhàn; lit. 'Heavenly Palace space station'), is a permanently crewed space station constructed by China and operated by China Manned Space Agency. Tiangong is a modular design, with modules docked together while in low Earth orbit, between 340 and 450 km (210 and 280 mi) above the surface. It is China's first long-term space station, part of the Tiangong program and the core of the "Third Step" of the China Manned Space Program; it has a pressurised volume of 340 m3 (12,000 cu ft), slightly over one third the size of the International Space Station. The space station aims to provide opportunities for space-based experiments and a platform for building capacity for scientific and technological innovation.
The construction of the station is based on the experience gained from its precursors, Tiangong-1 and Tiangong-2. The first module, the Tianhe core module, was launched on 29 April 2021. This was followed by multiple crewed and uncrewed missions and the addition of two laboratory modules. The first, Wentian, launched on 24 July 2022; the second, Mengtian, launched on 31 October 2022.
Infobox
Crew
mw- Size: 3[a]Current expedition: 10 (Shenzhou 22)Current commander: Zhang Lu
Launch
29 April 2021 (Tianhe)24 July 2022 (Wentian)31 October 2022 (Mengtian) 2026 (Xuntian)
Launch pad
Wenchang, LC-101
Mission status
Operational
Mass
100,000 kg (220,000 lb)
Length
55.6 m (182 ft)
Diameter
39 m (128 ft)
Pressurised volume
340 m3 (12,000 cu ft)Habitable: 122 m3 (4,310 cu ft)
Periapsis altitude
386.4 km (240.1 mi)
Apoapsis altitude
391.8 km (243.5 mi)
Orbital inclination
41.47°
Typical orbit altitude
389.1 km
Orbital speed
7.67 km/s (27,600 km/h; 17,200 mph)
Orbital period
92.3 minutes
Days in orbit
4 years, 7 months, 11 days as of 10 December 2025
Days occupied
4 years, 3 months, 3 days as of 10 December 2025
Tables
· Structure › Modules
Multi-metric bars
World heat map
—
—
Module
Tianhe
Launch time (UTC)
29 April 2021 03:23:15
Launch vehicle (Flight No.)
Long March 5B (Y2)
Docking date (UTC) / position
—
Length
16.6 m (54 ft)
Diameter
4.2 m (14 ft)
Mass
22,500 kg (49,600 lb)
Illustration
24 July 2022 19:13 (front)30 September 2022 04:44 (front → starboard)
24 July 2022 19:13 (front)30 September 2022 04:44 (front → starboard)
Module
Wentian
Launch time (UTC)
24 July 2022 06:22:32
Launch vehicle (Flight No.)
Long March 5B (Y3)
Docking date (UTC) / position
24 July 2022 19:13 (front)30 September 2022 04:44 (front → starboard)
Length
17.9 m (59 ft)
Diameter
4.2 m (14 ft)
Mass
23,200 kg (51,100 lb)
Illustration
31 October 2022 20:27 (front)3 November 2022 01:32 (front → port)
31 October 2022 20:27 (front)3 November 2022 01:32 (front → port)
Module
Mengtian
Launch time (UTC)
31 October 2022 07:37:23
Launch vehicle (Flight No.)
Long March 5B (Y4)
Docking date (UTC) / position
31 October 2022 20:27 (front)3 November 2022 01:32 (front → port)
Length
17.9 m (59 ft)
Diameter
4.2 m (14 ft)
Mass
~23,000 kg (51,000 lb)
Illustration
Ranked list
Module
Launch time (UTC)
Launch vehicle (Flight No.)
Docking date (UTC) / position
Length
Diameter
Mass
Illustration
Ground image
Tianhe
29 April 2021 03:23:15
Long March 5B (Y2)
—
16.6 m (54 ft)
4.2 m (14 ft)
22,500 kg (49,600 lb)
Core module with three sections: living quarters, the service section, and a docking hub.
Wentian
24 July 2022 06:22:32
Long March 5B (Y3)
24 July 2022 19:13 (front)30 September 2022 04:44 (front → starboard)
17.9 m (59 ft)
4.2 m (14 ft)
23,200 kg (51,100 lb)
First lab module, also serves as backup to core module's station control and management functions. Equipped with an EVA airlock and a 5-metre-long (16 ft) robotic arm.
Mengtian
31 October 2022 07:37:23
Long March 5B (Y4)
31 October 2022 20:27 (front)3 November 2022 01:32 (front → port)
17.9 m (59 ft)
4.2 m (14 ft)
~23,000 kg (51,000 lb)
Second lab module with cargo airlock and payload transportation system.
· Structure › Co-orbit modules
Multi-metric bars
World heat map
Xuntian Space Station Telescope
Xuntian Space Station Telescope
Spacecraft
Xuntian Space Station Telescope
Launch time and International Designator
2026 (Planned)
Launch vehicle
Long March 5B (Planned)
Operational date
2027 (Planned)
Notes
Will share the same orbit and periodically dock with Tiangong
Length
14 m (46 ft)
Diameter
4.5 m (15 ft)
Mass
15,500 kg (34,200 lb)
Planned independent Chinese space station telescope currently under development. It will feature a 2-metre (6.6 ft; 79 in) diameter primary mirror and is expected to have a field of view 300–350 times larger than the Hubble Space Telescope. This will allow the telescope to image up to 40 percent of the sky using its 2.5 gigapixel camera over ten years. It will co-orbit with the space station in a slightly different orbital phase, which will allow for periodic docking with the station for maintenance.
Planned independent Chinese space station telescope currently under development. It will feature a 2-metre (6.6 ft; 79 in) diameter primary mirror and is expected to have a field of view 300–350 times larger than the Hubble Space Telescope. This will allow the telescope to image up to 40 percent of the sky using its 2.5 gigapixel camera over ten years. It will co-orbit with the space station in a slightly different orbital phase, which will allow for periodic docking with the station for maintenance.
Spacecraft
Planned independent Chinese space station telescope currently under development. It will feature a 2-metre (6.6 ft; 79 in) diameter primary mirror and is expected to have a field of view 300–350 times larger than the Hubble Space Telescope. This will allow the telescope to image up to 40 percent of the sky using its 2.5 gigapixel camera over ten years. It will co-orbit with the space station in a slightly different orbital phase, which will allow for periodic docking with the station for maintenance.
Ranked list
Spacecraft
Launch time and International Designator
Launch vehicle
Operational date
Notes
Length
Diameter
Mass
On-orbit Image (Illustration)
Xuntian Space Station Telescope
2026 (Planned)
Long March 5B (Planned)
2027 (Planned)
Will share the same orbit and periodically dock with Tiangong
14 m (46 ft)
4.5 m (15 ft)
15,500 kg (34,200 lb)
Planned independent Chinese space station telescope currently under development. It will feature a 2-metre (6.6 ft; 79 in) diameter primary mirror and is expected to have a field of view 300–350 times larger than the Hubble Space Telescope. This will allow the telescope to image up to 40 percent of the sky using its 2.5 gigapixel camera over ten years. It will co-orbit with the space station in a slightly different orbital phase, which will allow for periodic docking with the station for maintenance.
· Operations › Crewed missions › List of current crew members
Multi-metric bars
World heat map
Zhang Lu
Zhang Lu
Astronaut
Zhang Lu
Role
Commander
Agency
PLAAC
Wu Fei
Wu Fei
Astronaut
Wu Fei
Role
Flight engineer
Agency
PLAAC
Zhang Hongzhang
Zhang Hongzhang
Astronaut
Zhang Hongzhang
Role
Payload Specialist
Agency
PLAAC
Ranked list
Astronaut
Role
Agency
Zhang Lu
Commander
PLAAC
Wu Fei
Flight engineer
PLAAC
Zhang Hongzhang
Payload Specialist
PLAAC
Multi-metric bars
World heat map
—
—
Launchdate (UTC)
29 April 2021,03:23:15
Docking date (UTC)
—
Undocking date (UTC)
—
Result
Success
Spacecraft/Module
Tianhe
Launch vehicle
Long March 5B
Launch site
Wenchang LC-1
Docking/berthing port
—
Duration
—
29 May 2021,21:01
29 May 2021,21:01
Launchdate (UTC)
29 May 2021,12:55:29
Docking date (UTC)
29 May 2021,21:01
Undocking date (UTC)
27 March 2022,07:59
Result
Tianzhou 2
Spacecraft/Module
Long March 7
Launch vehicle
Wenchang LC-2
Launch site
Tianhe port
Docking/berthing port
301 days, 10 hours, 58 minutes
17 June 2021,07:54
17 June 2021,07:54
Launchdate (UTC)
17 June 2021,01:22:27
Docking date (UTC)
17 June 2021,07:54
Undocking date (UTC)
16 September 2021,00:56
Result
Shenzhou 12
Spacecraft/Module
Long March 2F/G
Launch vehicle
Jiuquan SLS-1
Launch site
Tianhe forward
Docking/berthing port
90 days, 14 hours, 8 minutes
20 September 2021,14:08
20 September 2021,14:08
Launchdate (UTC)
20 September 2021,07:10:11
Docking date (UTC)
20 September 2021,14:08
Undocking date (UTC)
17 July 2022,02:59
Result
Tianzhou 3
Spacecraft/Module
Long March 7
Launch vehicle
Wenchang LC-2
Launch site
Tianhe forward
Docking/berthing port
299 days, 12 hours, 51 minutes
15 October 2021,22:56
15 October 2021,22:56
Launchdate (UTC)
15 October 2021,16:23:56
Docking date (UTC)
15 October 2021,22:56
Undocking date (UTC)
15 April 2022,16:44
Result
Shenzhou 13
Spacecraft/Module
Long March 2F/G
Launch vehicle
Jiuquan SLS-1
Launch site
Tianhe nadir
Docking/berthing port
181 days, 14 hours, 46 minutes
10 May 2022,00:54
10 May 2022,00:54
Launchdate (UTC)
9 May 2022,17:56:37
Docking date (UTC)
10 May 2022,00:54
Undocking date (UTC)
9 November 2022,06:55
Result
Tianzhou 4
Spacecraft/Module
Long March 7
Launch vehicle
Wenchang LC-2
Launch site
Tianhe aft
Docking/berthing port
183 days, 6 hours, 1 minute
5 June 2022,09:42
5 June 2022,09:42
Launchdate (UTC)
5 June 2022,02:44:10
Docking date (UTC)
5 June 2022,09:42
Undocking date (UTC)
4 December 2022,03:01
Result
Shenzhou 14
Spacecraft/Module
Long March 2F/G
Launch vehicle
Jiuquan SLS-1
Launch site
Tianhe nadir
Docking/berthing port
181 days, 14 hours, 11 minutes
24 July 2022,19:13
24 July 2022,19:13
Launchdate (UTC)
24 July 2022,06:22:32
Docking date (UTC)
24 July 2022,19:13
Undocking date (UTC)
—
Result
Wentian
Spacecraft/Module
Long March 5B
Launch vehicle
Wenchang LC-1
Launch site
Tianhe starboard
Docking/berthing port
—
31 October 2022,20:27
31 October 2022,20:27
Launchdate (UTC)
31 October 2022,07:37:23
Docking date (UTC)
31 October 2022,20:27
Undocking date (UTC)
—
Result
Mengtian
Spacecraft/Module
Long March 5B
Launch vehicle
Wenchang LC-1
Launch site
Tianhe port
Docking/berthing port
—
12 November 2022,04:10
12 November 2022,04:10
Launchdate (UTC)
12 November 2022,02:03:12
Docking date (UTC)
12 November 2022,04:10
Undocking date (UTC)
11 September 202308:46
Result
Tianzhou 5
Spacecraft/Module
Long March 7
Launch vehicle
Wenchang LC-2
Launch site
Tianhe forward
Docking/berthing port
303 days, 4 hours, 36 minutes
29 November 2022,21:42
29 November 2022,21:42
Launchdate (UTC)
29 November 2022,15:08:17
Docking date (UTC)
29 November 2022,21:42
Undocking date (UTC)
3 June 2023,13:29
Result
Shenzhou 15
Spacecraft/Module
Long March 2F/G
Launch vehicle
Jiuquan SLS-1
Launch site
Tianhe forward
Docking/berthing port
185 days, 13 hours, 56 minutes
10 May 2023,21:16
10 May 2023,21:16
Launchdate (UTC)
10 May 2023,13:22:51
Docking date (UTC)
10 May 2023,21:16
Undocking date (UTC)
12 January 2024,08:02
Result
Tianzhou 6
Spacecraft/Module
Long March 7
Launch vehicle
Wenchang LC-2
Launch site
Tianhe aft
Docking/berthing port
246 days, 10 hours, 46 minutes
30 May 2023,08:29
30 May 2023,08:29
Launchdate (UTC)
30 May 2023,01:31:13
Docking date (UTC)
30 May 2023,08:29
Undocking date (UTC)
30 October 2023,12:37
Result
Shenzhou 16
Spacecraft/Module
Long March 2F/G
Launch vehicle
Jiuquan LA-4
Launch site
Tianhe nadir
Docking/berthing port
153 days, 2 hours, 15 minutes
26 October 2023,09:46
26 October 2023,09:46
Launchdate (UTC)
26 October 2023,03:14:02
Docking date (UTC)
26 October 2023,09:46
Undocking date (UTC)
30 April 2024,00:43
Result
Shenzhou 17
Spacecraft/Module
Long March 2F/G
Launch vehicle
Jiuquan LA-4
Launch site
Tianhe forward
Docking/berthing port
186 days, 13 hours, 9 minutes
17 January 2024,17:46
17 January 2024,17:46
Launchdate (UTC)
17 January 2024,14:27:30
Docking date (UTC)
17 January 2024,17:46
Undocking date (UTC)
10 November 2024,08:30
Result
Tianzhou 7
Spacecraft/Module
Long March 7
Launch vehicle
Wenchang LC-2
Launch site
Tianhe aft
Docking/berthing port
297 days, 14 hours, 44 minutes
25 April 2024,19:32
25 April 2024,19:32
Launchdate (UTC)
25 April 2024,12:59:00
Docking date (UTC)
25 April 2024,19:32
Undocking date (UTC)
3 November 2024,08:12
Result
Shenzhou 18
Spacecraft/Module
Long March 2F/G
Launch vehicle
Jiuquan SLS-1
Launch site
Tianhe nadir
Docking/berthing port
191 days, 11 hours, 8 minutes
30 October 2024,03:00
30 October 2024,03:00
Launchdate (UTC)
29 October 2024, 20:27:34
Docking date (UTC)
30 October 2024,03:00
Undocking date (UTC)
29 April 2025, 20:00
Result
Shenzhou 19
Spacecraft/Module
Long March 2F/G
Launch vehicle
Jiuquan SLS-1
Launch site
Tianhe forward
Docking/berthing port
181 days, 17 hours
15 November 2024,18:32
15 November 2024,18:32
Launchdate (UTC)
15 November 2024, 15:13:18
Docking date (UTC)
15 November 2024,18:32
Undocking date (UTC)
8 July 2025,07:09
Result
Tianzhou 8
Spacecraft/Module
Long March 7
Launch vehicle
Wenchang LC-2
Launch site
Tianhe aft
Docking/berthing port
234 days, 12 hours, 37 minutes
24 April 2025, 15:49
24 April 2025, 15:49
Launchdate (UTC)
24 April 2025, 09:17
Docking date (UTC)
24 April 2025, 15:49
Undocking date (UTC)
Delayed indefinitely
Result
Partial failure
Spacecraft/Module
Shenzhou 20
Launch vehicle
Long March 2F/G
Launch site
Jiuquan SLS-1
Docking/berthing port
Tianhe nadir
14 July 2025, 21:34
14 July 2025, 21:34
Launchdate (UTC)
14 July 2025, 21:34
Docking date (UTC)
14 July 2025, 21:34
Result
Success
Spacecraft/Module
Tianzhou 9
Launch vehicle
Long March 7
Launch site
Wenchang LC-2
Docking/berthing port
Tianhe aft
31 October 202519:22
31 October 202519:22
Launchdate (UTC)
31 October 202515:44
Docking date (UTC)
31 October 202519:22
Undocking date (UTC)
14 November 202506:49
Result
Shenzhou 21
Spacecraft/Module
Long March 2F/G
Launch vehicle
Jiuquan SLS-1
Launch site
Tianhe forward
Docking/berthing port
13 days, 11 hours, 27 minutes
25 November 202515:50
25 November 202515:50
Launchdate (UTC)
25 November 202512:11
Docking date (UTC)
25 November 202515:50
Undocking date (UTC)
April 2026(planned)
Result
Success
Spacecraft/Module
Shenzhou 22
Launch vehicle
Long March 2F/G
Launch site
Jiuquan SLS-1
Docking/berthing port
Tianhe forward
—
—
Launchdate (UTC)
2026
Docking date (UTC)
—
Undocking date (UTC)
—
Result
—
Spacecraft/Module
Xuntian
Launch vehicle
Long March 5B
Launch site
Wenchang LC-1
Ranked list
Launchdate (UTC)
Docking date (UTC)
Undocking date (UTC)
Result
Spacecraft/Module
Launch vehicle
Launch site
Docking/berthing port
Duration
29 April 2021,03:23:15
—
—
Success
Tianhe
Long March 5B
Wenchang LC-1
—
—
29 May 2021,12:55:29
29 May 2021,21:01
27 March 2022,07:59
Tianzhou 2
Long March 7
Wenchang LC-2
Tianhe port
301 days, 10 hours, 58 minutes
17 June 2021,01:22:27
17 June 2021,07:54
16 September 2021,00:56
Shenzhou 12
Long March 2F/G
Jiuquan SLS-1
Tianhe forward
90 days, 14 hours, 8 minutes
20 September 2021,07:10:11
20 September 2021,14:08
17 July 2022,02:59
Tianzhou 3
Long March 7
Wenchang LC-2
Tianhe forward
299 days, 12 hours, 51 minutes
15 October 2021,16:23:56
15 October 2021,22:56
15 April 2022,16:44
Shenzhou 13
Long March 2F/G
Jiuquan SLS-1
Tianhe nadir
181 days, 14 hours, 46 minutes
9 May 2022,17:56:37
10 May 2022,00:54
9 November 2022,06:55
Tianzhou 4
Long March 7
Wenchang LC-2
Tianhe aft
183 days, 6 hours, 1 minute
5 June 2022,02:44:10
5 June 2022,09:42
4 December 2022,03:01
Shenzhou 14
Long March 2F/G
Jiuquan SLS-1
Tianhe nadir
181 days, 14 hours, 11 minutes
24 July 2022,06:22:32
24 July 2022,19:13
—
Wentian
Long March 5B
Wenchang LC-1
Tianhe starboard
—
31 October 2022,07:37:23
31 October 2022,20:27
—
Mengtian
Long March 5B
Wenchang LC-1
Tianhe port
—
12 November 2022,02:03:12
12 November 2022,04:10
11 September 202308:46
Tianzhou 5
Long March 7
Wenchang LC-2
Tianhe forward
303 days, 4 hours, 36 minutes
29 November 2022,15:08:17
29 November 2022,21:42
3 June 2023,13:29
Shenzhou 15
Long March 2F/G
Jiuquan SLS-1
Tianhe forward
185 days, 13 hours, 56 minutes
10 May 2023,13:22:51
10 May 2023,21:16
12 January 2024,08:02
Tianzhou 6
Long March 7
Wenchang LC-2
Tianhe aft
246 days, 10 hours, 46 minutes
30 May 2023,01:31:13
30 May 2023,08:29
30 October 2023,12:37
Shenzhou 16
Long March 2F/G
Jiuquan LA-4
Tianhe nadir
153 days, 2 hours, 15 minutes
26 October 2023,03:14:02
26 October 2023,09:46
30 April 2024,00:43
Shenzhou 17
Long March 2F/G
Jiuquan LA-4
Tianhe forward
186 days, 13 hours, 9 minutes
17 January 2024,14:27:30
17 January 2024,17:46
10 November 2024,08:30
Tianzhou 7
Long March 7
Wenchang LC-2
Tianhe aft
297 days, 14 hours, 44 minutes
25 April 2024,12:59:00
25 April 2024,19:32
3 November 2024,08:12
Shenzhou 18
Long March 2F/G
Jiuquan SLS-1
Tianhe nadir
191 days, 11 hours, 8 minutes
29 October 2024, 20:27:34
30 October 2024,03:00
29 April 2025, 20:00
Shenzhou 19
Long March 2F/G
Jiuquan SLS-1
Tianhe forward
181 days, 17 hours
15 November 2024, 15:13:18
15 November 2024,18:32
8 July 2025,07:09
Tianzhou 8
Long March 7
Wenchang LC-2
Tianhe aft
234 days, 12 hours, 37 minutes
24 April 2025, 09:17
24 April 2025, 15:49
Delayed indefinitely
Partial failure
Shenzhou 20
Long March 2F/G
Jiuquan SLS-1
Tianhe nadir
14 July 2025, 21:34
14 July 2025, 21:34
Success
Tianzhou 9
Long March 7
Wenchang LC-2
Tianhe aft
31 October 202515:44
31 October 202519:22
14 November 202506:49
Shenzhou 21
Long March 2F/G
Jiuquan SLS-1
Tianhe forward
13 days, 11 hours, 27 minutes
25 November 202512:11
25 November 202515:50
April 2026(planned)
Success
Shenzhou 22
Long March 2F/G
Jiuquan SLS-1
Tianhe forward
2026
—
—
—
Xuntian
Long March 5B
Wenchang LC-1
References
Typical: 3; Maximum: 6
Excludes visiting cargo like Tianzhou and crew vehicles like Shenzhou that are meant for supplementing the space station
Duration of a spacecraft is calculated from the moment of docking with the Tianhe core module to the moment of undocking
Initially docked to aft port, moved to forward port on 18 Sep 2021, and then again to portside port on 6 Jan 2022
Initially docked to aft port, moved to forward port on 20 Apr 2022
Initially docked to forward port, it was moved to starboard berth on 30 Sep 2022 by the Indexing Robot Arm
Initially docked to forward port, it was moved to the port berth on 3 Nov 2022 by the Indexing Robot Arm
Initially docked to aft port, from 5 May 2023, it was free-flying and co-orbiting the space station, then redocked to fo
Launched, crewed but landed uncrewed due to cracks in spacecraft's porthole caused by external space debris impact. Crew
Landed with Shenzhou 20 crew due to cracks in Shenzhou 20 spacecraft's porthole caused by external space debris impact.
"Once Wentian and Mengtian experimental modules dock with Tianhe, China Space Station will have in total 23 experiment racks on board. There will also be platforms for exposed experiments: 22 on Wentian and 30 on Mengtian"
"The next cargo spacecraft to resupply China Space Station, Tianzhou-5, has arrived at Wenchang for launch on Nov. 06. It also carries a 4U cubesat CAS-10 (XW-4) and will deploy on ~Dec. 15"
"The Shenzhou 16 spacecraft carrying Jing Haipeng, Zhu Yangzhu and Gui Haichao separated from Tiangong space station at 1237 UTC today, CMSA has just announced. Spacecraft set to reenter and land in the desert near Jiuquan spaceport ~0010 UTC Oct. 31"
"Long March 2F Y17 with Shenzhou-17 on the top has been rolled out to the launch pad in Jiuquan. The launch of 3 astronauts is expected to happen on October 26"
