The Tiangong modules, the central part of which was launched in 2021, will accommodate six people. Photo: Shutterstock.
China is planning commercial flights to the Tiangong space station and is working on more efficient spacecraft for orbital tourism, the Space.com portal reported, citing several people linked to the Asian country’s space program.
The first taikonaut, Yang Liwei, told Chinese media on March 7 that tourist flights “can be operated within a decade if there is demand,” specifying that “it’s not a question of technology, it’s a question of demand.”
Two days later, the chief designer of China’s manned space program, Zhou Jianping, confirmed the taikonaut’s claims and told the Global Times that the Shenzhou spacecraft, currently under development, could be used to transport tourists.
Once the station is complete, it will seat six people, he said.
China is working on more efficient spacecraft for orbital tourism. Its specialists are developing the Long March 2F reusable missile capable of sending a crew of three to the station.
In October, the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation reported the design of a newgeneration reusable spacecraft that could carry six or seven people to the Tiangong.
Tiangong’s core module was launched in April 2021. When completed in 2022, the Tshaped station will consist of a key module in the center and laboratory pods on either side. It will operate in a low Earth orbit at an altitude of between 340 and 450 kilometers.
Tiangong’s lifespan will be 10 years, although Chinese experts believe it could even exceed 15 years with proper maintenance and repairs.
(With information from RT in Spanish)