Mengtian module

{{Infobox space station module

| module = Mengtian
梦天

| module_image = Mengtian lab module rendering.jpg

| module_image_size =

| module_image_caption = Rendering of Mengtian lab module

| NSSDC_ID = 2022-143A

| launch = 31 October 2022, 07:37:23 UTC{{cite web |last=Beil |first=Adrian |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2022/10/china-launch-mengtian/ |title=China launches Mengtian science module to Tiangong space station |work=NASASpaceFlight |date=30 October 2022 |access-date=31 October 2022}}

| launch_vehicle = Long March 5B (Y4)

| docked =

| undocked =

| berthed =

| unberthed =

| reentry =

| mass = ~{{convert|22,000|kg|lb|abbr=on}} in orbit
At launch: ~{{convert|23,000|kg|lb|abbr=on}}

| length = {{convert|17.9|m|ft|abbr=on}}

| width =

| height =

| diameter = {{convert|4.2|m|ft|abbr=on}}

| volume = 109m³{{Cite journal |author=朱光辰 |url= http://www.htgc.cbpt.cnki.net/WKE/WebPublication/paperDigest.aspx?paperID=645e2201-f29d-4e4a-93d5-e988773274f0# |title= 我国载人航天器总体构型技术发展 |journal= 航天器工程 |year=2022 |volume=第31卷 |issue=第6期 |pages=47 }}
habitable: 32m³{{Cite web |url=https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/U0ZOghB8WnP_Ey7b4LeZVg|title=解码梦天（二）一组数字看懂梦天实验舱 |author=中国载人航天 |date=2022-10-30 |language=zh-hans |accessdate=2022-10-31 }}

{{Infobox spaceflight/Dock

| docking_target = Tiangong space station

| docking_type = Dock

| docking_port = Tianhe Forward

| docking_date = 31 October 2022, 20:27

| undocking_date = 3 November 2022, 00:48 UTC

| capture_date =

| release_date =

| time_docked = {{time interval|31 October 2022, 20:27|3 November 2022, 00:48|show=dhm}}

}}

{{Infobox spaceflight/Dock

| docking_target = Tiangong space station
(Relocation)

| docking_type = berth

| docking_port = Tianhe port side Port

| docking_date = 3 November 2022, 01:32 UTC

| undocking_date =

| time_docked = {{time interval|3 November 2022 01:32|show=ymd}}

}}

| stats_ref =

| configuration_image =

| configuration_size =

| configuration_caption =

}}

File:Mengtian launch.jpg

Mengtian ({{zh|s=梦天|t=夢天|p=Mèng Tiān|l=Dreaming of the Heavens{{cite web|url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201804/26/WS5ae12347a3105cdcf651a87b.html|title=Planned space station details made public|quote=The two space labs, Wentian, or Quest for Heavens, and Mengtian, or Dreaming of Heavens|date=2018-04-26|work=China Daily}}}}), officially the Mengtian laboratory cabin module ({{zh |s = 梦天实验舱 }}), is a major module of the Tiangong space station. It is the second Laboratory Cabin Module launched, after Wentian, and the second module to extend the existing Tianhe core module of the station.{{Cite web |title=SCIO briefing about China's progress on space station construction {{!}} english.scio.gov.cn |url=http://english.scio.gov.cn/pressroom/node_8030952.htm |access-date=2022-04-18 |website=english.scio.gov.cn}} It was launched into orbit from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site on 31 October 2022,{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory/china-launches-3rd-final-space-station-component-92414799 |title=China launches 3rd and final space station component |website=ABC News |date=31 October 2022 |author=The Associated Press }} successfully docking with Tianhe forward port at 20:27 UTC on the same day.{{cite web |last=Jones |first=Andrew |url=https://spacenews.com/final-module-docks-at-chinas-tiangong-space-station/ |title=Final module docks at China's Tiangong space station |work=SpaceNews |date=31 October 2022 |access-date=1 November 2022}}

On 3 November 2022, Mengtian was relocated to the larboard port at 01:32 UTC{{cite tweet |author=China 'N Asia Spaceflight |user=CNSpaceflight |number=1587984835808665600 |title=Official completion time of Mengtian relocation is 01:32UTC |date=3 November 2022 |access-date=3 November 2022}} by indexing robot arm. On the same day at 07:12 UTC, the crew of Shenzhou 14 opened the hatch and entered the module for the first time.

Purpose

File:Mengtian module.png

The Mengtian module is equipped with expanded in-orbit experiment capacity, including eight research cabins.{{cite web|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3195718/chinas-space-station-prepares-new-frontiers-science-launch |title=China's space station prepares for new frontiers of science with launch of Mengtian module |website=South China Morning Post |date=12 October 2022 |last=Ling |first=Xin }} It provides a pressurized environment for researchers to conduct science experiments in freefall or zero gravity which could not be conducted on Earth for more than a few minutes. Experiments can also be placed on the outside of the modules, for exposure to the space environment, cosmic rays, vacuum, and solar winds. It has its own airlock.

File:Module relocation with rotation arm on Tiangong.gif]]

The axial port of Mengtian is fitted with rendezvous equipment and will first dock to the axial port of Tianhe. A mechanical arm known as the indexing robotic arm, similar to the Lyappa arm on the Mir space station, then moves Mengtian to a portside port of the TCM.{{cite news |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021/04/china-station-construction-begins/ |title=China readies launch of Tianhe module, start of ambitious two-year station construction effort |first1=William |last1=Graham |first2=Chris |last2=Gebhardt |date=April 28, 2021 |publisher=NASASpaceflight.com |quote=This means the two future science modules, Wentian (“Quest for the heavens”) and Mengtian (“Dreaming of the heavens”), cannot dock directly to their planned radial port locations. [...] To account for this, each module will carry a Russian Lyappa robotic arm — like the ones used on Mir for the same purpose — to move the module from the forward port to its respective permanent location on a radial port of Tianhe's docking hub.}}{{Cite book |last=Hong Yang |title=Manned Spacecraft Technologies |publisher=Springer |year=2020 |isbn=978-9811548970 |location=Singapore}}{{cite news |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021/04/china-station-construction-begins/ |title=China readies launch of Tianhe module, start of ambitious two-year station construction effort |first1=William |last1=Graham |first2=Chris |last2=Gebhardt |date=April 28, 2021 |publisher=NASASpaceflight.com}} In addition to this arm used for docking relocation, the Chinarm on Tianhe module can also be used as a backup in place of the indexing robot arm.{{Cite book |last=Hong Yang |title=Manned Spacecraft Technologies |publisher=Springer |year=2020 |isbn=978-9811548970 |location=China |pages=355}}{{cite news |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021/04/china-station-construction-begins/ |title=China readies launch of Tianhe module, start of ambitious two-year station construction effort |first1=William |last1=Graham |first2=Chris |last2=Gebhardt |date=April 28, 2021 |website=NASASpaceflight.com}}

File:Rotation Arm on Wentian.jpg

Mengtian also carries a toolbox equipped with a dexterous robotic arm, installed to assist in cargo transfer and payload release,{{cite web |last=Beil |first=Adrian |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2022/10/china-launch-mengtian/ |title=China launches Mengtian science module to Tiangong space station |work=NASASpaceFlight |date=30 October 2022 |access-date=31 October 2022}} that can be used to launch microsatellites,{{cite web|url=http://www.china.org.cn/china/2022-10/31/content_78494902.htm |title=China launches lab module Mengtian as space station approaches completion |website=China News Service |author=Xinhua |date=31 October 2022 }} and an augmented-reality smart glass to assist astronauts with maintenance.

Similarly to the Wentian module, electrical power is provided by two steerable solar power arrays, which use photovoltaic cells to convert sunlight into electricity. With a wingspan of over 55 m (180 ft), each array has an energy collection area of 110 m² (1184 square ft).{{Cite web |last=Andrew Jones published |date=2022-08-13 |title=See the huge solar wings of China's space station in motion above Earth (video) |url=https://www.space.com/china-tiangong-space-station-solar-array-video |access-date=2022-11-12 |website=Space.com |language=en}} The energy is then stored to power the station when it passes into the Earth's shadow. Resupply ships will replenish fuel for LCM 2 for station-keeping, to counter the effects of atmospheric drag.

Aftermath

After launch, the Mengtian module was inserted into a low Earth orbit with an average altitude of {{convert|393|km|mi|abbr=on}} at an orbital inclination of 42 degrees, centered in the Earth's thermosphere.{{cite web |last=Barbosa |first=Rui C. |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021/03/china-preparing-to-build-tiangong-station-in-2021-complete-by-2022/ |title=China preparing to build Tiangong station in 2021, complete by 2022 |work=NASASpaceFlight |date=1 March 2021 |accessdate=15 March 2021}}{{cite web |last=David |first=Leonard |url=https://www.space.com/11048-china-space-station-plans-details.html |title=China Details Ambitious Space Station Goals |work=Space.com |date=7 March 2011 |access-date=23 February 2012}} It successfully docked with the Tianhe core module nearly thirteen hours after launch.

Assembly

The Shenzhou 14 mission to the space station assisted with setting up the Mengtian module in orbit.{{Cite web|url=https://dongfanghour.com/the-completion-of-the-css-in-2022/|title = Completion of the Heavenly Palace: Tiangong in 2022 - Dongfang Hour|date = 4 February 2022}}