Tiangong-2

Key facts

Science

Mission

Tiangong-2, launched on 15 September 2016, was China's second space laboratory and a more capable successor to Tiangong-1. Its purpose was to prove the technologies needed for a permanent station: in late 2016 the Shenzhou 11 crew lived aboard for about a month — China's longest crewed mission at the time — and in 2017 the Tianzhou-1 cargo craft demonstrated automated docking and, crucially, in-orbit refuelling, the ability to top up a station's propellant from a visiting freighter. With its objectives met, Tiangong-2 was retired and brought down in a controlled re-entry on 19 July 2019. The lessons from both Tiangong labs fed directly into the modular Tiangong station that China began assembling in 2021.

1. 2016A more capable laboratoryLaunch

   Tiangong-2 launches to prove the technologies needed for a permanent station.

2. 2016Shenzhou 11 crew aboardArrival

   A crew lives aboard for about a month — China's longest crewed mission at the time.

3. 2017In-orbit refuelling demonstratedMilestone

   The Tianzhou-1 freighter performs automated docking and transfers propellant — a key station capability.

4. 2019Controlled deorbitMission end

   With its objectives met, Tiangong-2 is brought down in a controlled re-entry.

Images

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