Earlier this week, China launched its Tianhe module, a key module to make up a new permanent space station that Beijing has had in development for several years. Tianhe, which does contain living quarters for crew members, was launched via a Long March-5B rocket from the Wenchang Launch Centre.
The latest development marks another material step signalling China’s ambitions to evolve into an entity of global stature in the domain of space exploration. The launch of the Tianhe module was lauded by China’s President Xi Jinping who described it as an important step in “building a great nation of science and technology.”
Tianhe will form part of the Tiangong (Heavenly Palace) space station which Beijing expects to be operational by 2022, following 11 more missions to deliver and assemble additional modules.
The launch, incidentally, comes just days after Russian officials announced that Russia would be pulling out of the long-standing agreement between Roscosmos (Russia), NASA (US), JAXA (Japan), ESA (Europe) and CSA (Canada) to collaborate on space research aboard the International Space Station by 2025.
Russia’s decision, effectively, marked the end of over two decades of international cooperation facilitated by the ISS and also arrives at a moment when relations between Washington and Moscow have grown increasingly strained.
Russia has also announced that it is seeking to build and manage its own space laboratory to be launched into orbit by 2030.
Its imminent departure from the ISS, coupled with China’s Tiangong ambitions, now marks a significant change in the tide concerning the quest for dominion over space. Both the US and Russia have, for years, traded barbs over each other’s intentions to increasingly militarise space.
But while the first Moon landing remains a great source of pride for Washington, as does Russia’s numerous space-related achievements to Moscow, it is China, in fact, that has launched the most number of satellites into orbit than any other nation over the last few years, reflecting the increasing importance that Beijing places on its space programme.
The Chinese government, in its most recent white paper on space-related activities, noted that China ought to fashion itself “into a space power in all respects, using its space programme to amplify its “overall strength.” It, reportedly, views its programme as a means to boost its international prestige – something that was declared by now-retired Chinese leader Wu Bangguo as far back as 2005. That sentiment was echoed by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2016 when he declared China’s ambition to become a global leader in space exploration.
And with the International Space Station expected to deorbit in 2024, there is now a real possibility that the billions of dollars that China has ploughed into its Tiangong space station development may bear significant fruit.
If indeed, the ISS was to be retired as scheduled, China’s space station may, at least for a brief period, be the only space station in orbit facilitating space research. Beijing has previously announced that “all member states of the United Nations are welcome to cooperate with China to jointly utilise its future China Space Station.” Talks are, reportedly, also ongoing between Russia, the European Union and China over a potential joint venture.
