[FPSPACE] Tiangong

[Chen Lan]

1. The statement in the CCTV link, by Zhang Jianqi, head of the manned program, is so far the most reliable official statement. It is consistent with the official manned program web site (www.cmse.gov.cn). Others may be from various scientists (some of them are even not involved in the program) or just conceptual designs (remember those modified ISS drawings).

2. TG-1, 2, 3 are unlikely connected. As I know, TG-1 is just a docking target that lacks many facilities needed by scientific experiments. It even has not a sustainable life support system (just a guess). In initial reports, TG-1 is not called a spacelab. TG-2 and 3 will be real mini-stations capable of human living and working inside them. IMO, with only two years of designed life and not designed for modular station, it doesn't make sense to dock them together. There are no any reports indicating TG-2 and 3 will become a modular station. 

3. The plan calls for 3 lab launches and 8 Shenzhous in the period of 2010 - 2015 (source: CMSE web site). But I think actual launches are very likely delayed into the second half of the next decade. As for reboosting capability, the lab itself and two docking Shenzhous will be enough during the active working period (definitely less than 2 years, most likely one year or a liitle more). All these labs will be launched by CZ-2F/G from Jiuquan and maybe some of Shenzhous launched by CZ-2F/H (a new model using YF-100 LOX/Kerosene engine).

4. I haven't seen reports with details of the fuel transfer tech. But I know the plan of the cargo ship with fuel transfer capability(5,5t up cargo, ATV class). It will be launched from Hainan by CZ-5 after 2014. The station will come as late as 2020. But it may be earlier. According to Zhang, the worse case is with only the core module. Please note that in Chinese reports, 2020 is the date of "completion", which I understand "workable", with a core and without other modules. If there is a gap between TG-3 and the station, it is possible coming with the TG-4 or something we do not know now.

5. I haven't seen any clues of funding impact caused by the earthquake and other things.


Chen Lan
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: E.P. Grondine 
  To: FPSPACE at friends-partners.org 
  Sent: Tuesday, September 30, 2008 11:06 AM
  Subject: [FPSPACE] Tiangong


  Hi all - 

  We've seen several statements and models of different labs, and now this one:

  http://www.cctv.com/program/journal/20080929/100561.shtml

  The other statement had a core ( presumably with panels and truss) and two modules attached (Tiangong 2 and Tiangong 3)

  Chen Lan, do you have any idea what is going on?  

  Clearly the lab is going to require a higher launch rate than we've seen (once every 2 years), but what about reboost of the station using existing SZ control systems? My current assumption is that the lab is CZ3 launched out of the existing manned launch site.

  The station is not supposed to come until 2020 now, what happened to the 2015 date for developing fuel transfer technologies? CZ5 slippage? Or did the earthquake hit the space funding levels? Or the development of better oil/energy technologies?





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