China launched Tianhe-1, the first and main module of a permanent orbiting
space station called Tiangong (Heavenly Palace 天 宫), on April 29. Two
additional science modules (Wentian and Mengtian) will follow in 2022 in a
series of missions that will complete the station and allow it to start
operations.
While the station is not China's first—the country has already launched
two—the modular design is new. It replicates the International Space Station
(ISS), from which China was excluded.
There are many reasons for China to invest in this costly and
technologically challenging project. One is to conduct scientific research
and make medical, environmental and technological discoveries. But there are
also other possible motivations, such as commercial gains and prestige.
That said, Tiangong does not aim to compete with the ISS. The Chinese
station will be smaller and similar in design and size to the former Soviet
Mir space station, meaning it will have limited capacity for astronauts
(three versus six on ISS).
After all, it doesn't have as much money behind it as the ISS and there are
not as many countries involved. If anything can be called the UN in space,
it is the ISS, which has as collaborators former cold war enemies (US and
Russia) and old friends (Japan, Canada and Europe). Over its two decades and
counting of service, the only permanent human outpost in space has hosted
about 250 astronauts from 19 different countries, carrying out hundreds of
spacewalks and thousands of scientific experiments.
But the ISS is coming to its natural end. It's scheduled to be
decommissioned after 2024 to leave place for the Lunar Gateway, a small
outpost that will orbit the moon. This is an international initiative part
of the US-led Artemis Program that again sees China excluded.
Toward a Chinese monopoly?
Until the gateway is launched, however, Tiangong—which will be placed in
lower Earth orbit and have an expected life of 15 years—will probably remain
the only functioning space station. Some worry this makes it a security
threat, arguing its science modules could be easily converted for military
purposes, such as spying on countries. But it doesn't have to be this way
and, if things go as planned, it won't be.
China may use this opportunity to win back trust and attract international
collaboration. This may be particularly important given Nasa's criticism
following the recent Chinese out-of-control rocket that plunged into the
Indian Ocean. There are signs the country is trying to be more open, having
already declared Tiangong will be open to host non-Chinese crews and science
projects. Astronauts from Europe's space agency, Esa, have in fact begun
training with Chinese "taikonauts," and international projects have been
included in the station's first approved batch of selected experiments.
Tiangong might not remain alone for long either. Supported by Nasa, private
corporations have started designing their own orbital modules, from Bigelow
Aerospace's inflatable habitat B330 to the commercial laboratory and
residential infrastructure built by Axiom. Even Blue Origin has shown
interest in building a space station. The Russians seem to like the idea,
too—they already have plans for a luxury space hotel.
What's more, the already extended ISS lifespan may be further prolonged,
although there are many issues surrounding its end date.
The Lunar Gateway
Tiangong may not be alone for long, however, as the Lunar Gateway will be
launched eventually. In its basic conception, the Lunar Gateway will serve
as a science laboratory and short-term habitation module. It will then act
as a hub, allowing for spacecraft and rovers to resupply during their
multiple trips to the moon. The first launch is planned as early as May 2024
with SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket, taking the essential modules. It should
be operational a few years later.
Compared to the ISS, the Gateway will be smaller and more nimble. Of the
original ISS members, only four (US, Europe, Japan and Canada) are part of
the Gateway.
For now, Russia has not joined, due to the controversies surrounding the
Artemis program, which many countries believe is too US-centric.
This is another opportunity for China. It has already started collaborating
with other countries on recent space projects. More is coming. In March
2021, it signed an agreement with Russia's space agency Roscosmos to build a
joint Russian-Chinese research facility on the moon. Having lost its
monopoly for manned flights to the ISS due to the successful SpaceX launch
in 2020, Russia seems keen to keep its options open for what concerns lunar
projects.
Ultimately, space is both challenging and expensive. While it is a way for
many countries to show dominance, cooperation has already proved to be more
effective than lone endeavors: if anything, the ISS is the best proof that.
We know that space exploration can also defuse tensions on the ground, as it
did during the cold war.
China's taking a leading role in the new space race could have a similarly
positive effect—especially if the country shows goodwill in helping address
a growing security problem in low Earth orbit: how to get rid of space junk.