China Plans to Expand its Space Station as Alternative to NASA-led ISS
China has announced plans to expand its space station to six modules, providing an alternative platform for near-Earth missions as the International Space Station (ISS) approaches the end of its lifespan. The announcement was made by the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST), a unit of China’s main space contractor, at the International Astronautical Congress in Baku, Azerbaijan.
The operational lifetime of the Chinese space station is now expected to be more than 15 years, surpassing the previously announced 10 years. China’s self-built space station, also known as Tiangong or Celestial Palace, has been fully operational since late 2022, hosting a maximum of three astronauts at an orbital altitude of up to 450 kilometers.
Once expanded to six modules, Tiangong will have a mass of 180 metric tons, which is still only 40% of the mass of the ISS. The ISS, which has been in orbit for over two decades, is projected to be decommissioned after 2030, around the same time China aims to become a major space power.
China’s ambition to establish itself as a space power has attracted interest from other countries. Last year, several countries expressed their desire to send astronauts to the Chinese station. However, the European Space Agency (ESA) recently announced that it does not have the budget or political approval to participate in Tiangong, putting an end to a long-standing plan for European astronauts to visit.
The Global Times, a nationalist Chinese tabloid, criticized the decision, stating that giving up cooperation with China in the manned space domain is short-sighted and reflects the new space race driven by the US-led camp confrontation.
Tiangong has become a symbol of China’s growing influence and confidence in its space endeavors. It has also emerged as a challenger to the United States in the domain after being banned from collaborating with NASA due to US law. Russia, another participant in the ISS, is also pursuing space diplomacy plans. It has proposed that its partners in the BRICS group – Brazil, India, China, and South Africa – construct a module for its own space station.
Roscosmos, the Russian space agency, revealed last year its plan to build a space station with six modules capable of accommodating up to four cosmonauts.
As China expands its space station and takes steps to establish itself as a major player in space exploration, the dynamics of the global space race continue to evolve. With the ISS nearing the end of its lifespan, the future of international collaboration in space remains uncertain.