--- title: "China’s Plans for “Heavenly Palace” Space Station Are Dazzling" description: "China is planning to launch 11 missions before 2023 to construct an orbital, three-module space station." date: "2020-05-28" modified: "2020-05-28" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/chinas-heavenly-palace-space-station-dazzling" categories: - "Off-World" - "Space" tags: - "china" - "space station" - "the digest" - "tianhe-2" --- # China’s Plans for “Heavenly Palace” Space Station Are Dazzling ![China is planning to launch 11 missions before 2023 to construct an orbital, three-module space station.]() *\Image: CASC\* ## Heavenly Palace China has laid out an ultra-ambitious timeline to construct its "Heavenly Palace" space station — a plan that involves launch 11 missions before 2023, [*SpaceNews* reports](), to construct an orbital three-module lab. The first piece to be launched into space is a massive, 20-ton core module that will eventually serve as astronaut quarters. China is hoping to launch the module as early as 2021, according to *SpaceNews*. ## Long March The Long March 5B is capable of lugging hundreds of kilos of cargo into orbit. It, along with a number of future variants, will be responsible for carrying up various components of the space station over the coming years. The news comes after China [successfully launched]() its Long March 5B rocket earlier this month, a vehicle designed to carry larger payloads to low-Earth orbit. Its predecessor, the heavy lift vehicle Long March 5, [launched]() in December after an engine failure during a July 2017 test delayed the program. ## China's ISS As part of the 11 launches, China is also looking to launch a total of two experiment modules, four crewed spacecraft and four cargo spacecraft. All together, the Chinese space station will serve as a test bed for a number of international scientific endeavors, from biotechnology to astronomy. Chinese authorities will also be selecting up to 18 new astronauts from the People’s Liberation Army Air Force, *SpaceNews* reports. Training is already underway. **READ MORE:** [China outlines intense space station launch schedule, new astronaut selection]() \[*SpaceNews*\] **More on China:** *[Out-of-Control Chinese Rocket Reportedly Dropped Debris on Africa]()* ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()