Australian Company Reveals Images of China’s Tiangong Space Station Construction
An Australian company, HEO Robotics, has released captivating images that showcase the construction process of China’s Tiangong space station. Specializing in non-Earth imaging, HEO Robotics utilizes space-based sensors to capture images of objects of interest in orbit. The firm shared these images on August 30th, demonstrating their capabilities and documenting China’s step-by-step progress in completing the three-module Tiangong space station.
HEO Robotics illustrated how their non-Earth imaging technology enabled them to witness the construction story of the Tiangong space station unfold over an 18-month period. Each stage of the construction was verified using photographs taken from other satellites in space. The company shared their findings on X, formerly known as Twitter, stating, “Using our non-Earth imaging capability, we witnessed a story unfold over an 18-month timeframe. Each stage you see was verified with a photo taken from another satellite in space.”
The released images present a short video showcasing the progression of China’s space station. It begins with the Tianhe core module being visited by Tianzhou cargo vessels and crewed Shenzhou spacecraft. Subsequently, two experiment modules, Wentian and Mengtian, are added to the complex, forming a distinct “T-shape” structure. The Tiangong space station then continues to receive new visitors.
HEO Robotics emphasizes that its services assist defense, governments, and commercial operators in visually monitoring space objects. The company employs in-orbit flyby inspection technology to provide this monitoring capability. Recently, the Sydney-based startup successfully launched its Holmes Imager as a hosted payload on Turion’s Droid-1. Additionally, HEO Robotics secured a substantial investment of $12 million AUD to expand its software platform.
Currently, the Tiangong space station is home to the Shenzhou 17 crew consisting of three individuals. China has set its sights on keeping the orbital outpost inhabited for at least a decade and potentially utilizing it for commercial purposes.
The incredible images released by HEO Robotics shed light on the remarkable progress made by China in constructing the Tiangong space station. These visual insights contribute to our understanding of the advancements taking place in space exploration and the future of space stations.