Editing Tiangong

Tiangong (Chinese: 天宫; pinyin: Tiāngōng; literally "Heavenly Palace") is a space station program of the [[People's Republic of China]], with the goal of creating a third generation space station, comparable to [[Mir]]. 


==Details==

===Space laboratory phase===
Chinese efforts to develop [[low-Earth orbit|LEO]] space station capabilities begin with a ''space laboratory phase'', with the launch of three Tiangong space modules.

==== Tiangong 1 "target vehicle"====
The Chinese docking target consists of a propulsion (resource) module and a pressurized module for experiments, with a docking mechanism at either end. The docking port of the experiment section supports automated docking. Its length is 10.5m, diameter is 3.4m, with a mass of 8000kg. Launched on September 29, 2011, it is intended for short stays of a crew of three.

==== Tiangong 2 "space laboratory"====
The Chinese Space Lab will be launched in 2013.
Configuration is as follows:
* Crew Size: 3, with 20 days of life support resources.
* Length: 14.4m
* Maximum Diameter: 4.2m
* Mass: 20000kg
* Two docking ports

====Tiangong 3 "space station"====
The Chinese Space Lab is planned to be launched in the 2015 timeframe.
* 40 days of living conditions for three astronauts
* Evaluate regenerative life-support technology, and verify orbital replenishment of propellant and air.


===Large orbital station===
China plans to build what may be only the world's third multi-module space station, to follow [[Mir]] and the [[ISS]]. This is dependent upon the Tiangong 3 launch date, and the date of [[OPSEK]]'s separation from the ISS. The previous separate components will be integrated into a space station, arranged as:

* [[Core Cabin Module]] (CCM) - based on the Tiangong 3 "space station" and analogous to the [[Mir Core Module]]. 
* [[Laboratory Cabin Module]] I (LCM-1) and Laboratory Cabin Module II (LCM-2) - based on Tiangong 2 "space laboratory". 
* [[Shenzhou (spacecraft)|Shenzhou]] - crewed vessel
* A cargo craft based on Tiangong-1 that will have a maximum diameter of 3.35 meters and a launch weight less than 13 tons, to transport supplies and lab facilities to the space station.

The larger station will be assembled in 2020-2022 and have a design lifetime of ten years.  The complex will weigh approximately 60000kg and will support three astronauts for long-term habitation.

==External links==
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiangong Tiangong program]

===Large orbital station===
{{Main|Chinese space station}}
{{Infobox Space station
 | station                = Chinese space station <br> (Project 921 Phase 3) <br> 20-metric ton "space station"
 | station_image          = Chinese large orbital station.png
 | station_image_landscape=
 | station_image_size     =
 | station_image_caption  = Drawing of Shenzhou and Cargo ship docked to the large orbital station
 | extra_image            =
 | extra_image_landscape  =
 | extra_image_size       =
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 | insignia               =
 | insignia_size          =
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 | sign                   =
 | crew                   = 2-3
 | launch                 = ~2020-2022
 | launch_pad             =
 | reentry                =
 | mass                   = 60,000 kg
 | length                 = ~ 20.00 m
 | diameter               = ~ 3.00 m
 | volume                 =
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 | speed                  =
 | period                 =
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}}