China’s Astronauts Return After Six-Month Mission on Tiangong Space Station

China’s Astronauts Return After Six-Month Mission on Tiangong Space Station

Sub : Sci

Sec: Space sector

Why in News

Three Chinese astronauts returned to Earth after completing a six-month mission on Tiangong, China’s space station. This mission underscores China’s advancements in space exploration and its aspirations to become a leading space power.

Landing Details: The capsule, carrying three astronauts, made a successful nighttime landing in Inner Mongolia.

About Tiangong Space Station:

The Tiangong space station is a Chinese space station built in low Earth orbit between 340 and 450 kilometres above the earth.

It is part of China Manned Space Program and is the country’s first long-term space station.

The three modules of the Tiangong Space Station are 

• The Tianhe means “Harmony of the Heavens” is the core module.
• Wentian means “Quest for the Heavens” is a laboratory cabin module.
• Mengtian means “Dreaming of the Heavens” is a laboratory module.

With the fully functioning of the Space station China will become only the third country in history to have put both astronauts into space and to build a space station, after Russia and the US.

It is one-fifth the mass of the International Space Station

Challenges Faced by Tiangong:

The Tiangong space station had to perform multiple evasive manoeuvres to avoid potential collisions with space debris. This highlights the growing challenge of maintaining the safety of operational satellites and space stations in increasingly crowded orbital paths.

Space debris, or space junk, refers to defunct satellites, spent rocket stages, and fragments from collisions that orbit Earth. This debris poses significant risks to active space missions and satellites.

Tiangong experienced a partial power loss when debris struck and damaged the power cables of its solar wing, reducing its energy output.