On-orbit Space Technology Experiment and Verification Project Outlook of China’s Tiangong Space Station

Abstract

China’s Tiangong space station has been completed in 2022 to support large-scale multidisciplinary space science research and technology experiments. With a large payload capacity and long operating time, Tiangong space station has many irreplaceable advantages over other spacecraft, such as space transportation, global tracking, on-orbit care for astronauts, and the ability to replace and upgrade experiment equipment. The resources available to the space station and its affiliated spacecraft provide an excellent open verification platform for experimental programs. The modular design of the intravehicular experiment rack can support different combinations of normal payloads for experiment, and an extravehicular exposed platform is planned to support different sizes of normal payloads for experiment. This paper firstly discusses the mission objectives of China’s Tiangong space station and the development of new space systems. Secondly, it sorts out the conditions for China’s Tiangong space station to conduct experiments for space technology. On this basis, a systematic layout for the missions of space technology experiments on China’s Tiangong space station is made. Five research topics are proposed, i.e., robotics and autonomous system technology, on-orbit assembly and construction technology for spacecraft, environmental control and life support system technology, new energy and propulsion technology, and new generic technology for spacecraft. Centering on the key technologies that restrict the development of China’s future space missions and systems, this study gives an outlook on the on-orbit space technology experiment and verification project for China’s Tiangong space station. Finally, development strategy and suggestions are put forward for China’s space technology.