Tiangong Space Station
Tiangong is China's modular space station and a major step in the country's long-duration human-spaceflight program. Built around the Tianhe core module and expanded with Wentian and Mengtian laboratory modules, it supports crews, experiments and repeated cargo and crew missions in low Earth orbit.
Object identity
- NORAD ID
- 48274
- COSPAR ID
- 2021-035A
- Operator
- China Manned Space Agency
- Country
- China
- Launch date
- April 29, 2021
Immediate discovery
Why this satellite matters
Tiangong is particularly useful for comparing independent space-station architectures: different launch vehicles, docking systems and mission cadence, but the same orbital mechanics govern every module once in orbit.
Understanding the mission
Science and engineering ideas
Tiangong is particularly useful for comparing independent space-station architectures: different launch vehicles, docking systems and mission cadence, but the same orbital mechanics govern every module once in orbit.
Mission
Mission and purpose
Objects in this category may be crewed stations, modules, cargo vehicles, or other spacecraft directly connected with human activity in orbit. The exact role depends on the individual object.
- Tiangong is particularly useful for comparing independent space-station architectures: different launch vehicles, docking systems and mission cadence, but the same orbital mechanics govern every module once in orbit.
Design
Engineering
Tiangong is particularly useful for comparing independent space-station architectures: different launch vehicles, docking systems and mission cadence, but the same orbital mechanics govern every module once in orbit.
Real orbital values
The mathematics
The current two-line element set reports approximately 15.6011 revolutions per day. Dividing 1,440 minutes by that value gives an estimated orbital period of 92.3 minutes.
Period
92.3 min
Representative speed
27,633 km/h
Representative altitude
394 km
Inclination
41.47°
Launch record
Launch and deployment
Tiangong assembly began with Tianhe's launch on 29 April 2021 aboard a Long March 5B from Wenchang. Wentian and Mengtian followed in 2022.
Orbit
LEO orbit explained
Low Earth orbit is the region closest to Earth used by most crewed spacecraft, many science missions, Earth-observation satellites, and large constellations. Objects move quickly and commonly complete an orbit in roughly 90 to 130 minutes.
LEO can provide detailed Earth views, lower communications delay, and easier access than higher orbits, but it covers less area per spacecraft and is more affected by atmospheric drag.
Live TransitSatellite experience
See Tiangong Space Station moving now
Open the live tracker to view its current calculated position, trajectory, orbital information, visibility tools, and Save and Share controls.
Learning
Questions to explore
- Why do low-orbiting stations circle Earth many times per day?
- How do crews receive power, supplies, and communications in orbit?
Evidence
Sources and data notes
Current identity and orbital elements come from CelesTrak’s public GP data. Calculated orbit values are derived from the current TLE and may change after catalog updates. Mission-history claims are added separately and require authoritative sources.
Catalog updated
Sep 20, 2026, 2:05 AM UTC
Story review
1970-01-01T00:00:00.000Z