# Tiangong-1

> Chinese prototype space station in orbit from 2011 to 2018

**Wikidata**: [Q131500](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q131500)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiangong-1)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/tiangong-1

## Summary
Tiangong-1 was a Chinese prototype space station and space laboratory operated by the China National Space Administration. Launched in 2011, it served as a crewed spacecraft for research and experiments before decaying from orbit and undergoing an uncontrolled reentry in 2018.

## Key Facts
- **Entity Type:** Chinese prototype space station and space laboratory.
- **Operator:** China National Space Administration.
- **Launch Date:** September 29, 2011, at 13:16:03 UTC.
- **Launch Vehicle:** Long March 2F.
- **Launch Site:** Jiuquan Launch Complex 43/91.
- **Mass:** 8,506 kilograms.
- **Orbit:** Apoapsis of 362 km; Periapsis of 355 km; Orbital inclination of 42 degrees.
- **Operational Dates:** In orbit from September 29, 2011, to April 2, 2018.
- **Crewed Missions:** Hosted six crew members across two missions (Shenzhou 9 and Shenzhou 10) between 2012 and 2013.
- **Decay Date:** April 2, 2018, at 00:15 UTC (Uncontrolled reentry).
- **COSPAR ID:** 2011-053A.

## FAQs
### Q: Was Tiangong-1 a fully functional space station?
A: Tiangong-1 was classified as a prototype space station and a space laboratory. It was designed to remain in space for an extended period with a crew to conduct research, serving as a precursor to larger stations.

### Q: Who visited Tiangong-1?
A: The station hosted six astronauts (taikonauts) total. In June 2012, the crew included Jing Haipeng, Liu Wang, and Liu Yang. In June 2013, the crew included Nie Haisheng, Zhang Xiaoguang, and Wang Yaping.

### Q: How did Tiangong-1 end its mission?
A: The mission concluded with an uncontrolled reentry into Earth's atmosphere on April 2, 2018. The time of orbital decay was recorded at 00:15 UTC.

## Why It Matters
Tiangong-1 represents a critical milestone in the Tiangong program and China's broader space exploration ambitions. As China's first prototype space station, it provided the necessary infrastructure to test critical technologies for orbital rendezvous and long-duration human habitation. By successfully hosting two separate crewed missions (Shenzhou 9 and Shenzhou 10), it demonstrated the capability to support astronauts for extended periods—vital knowledge required for constructing and maintaining larger, permanent modular space stations.

The station's uncontrolled reentry in 2018 also highlighted the challenges of space debris management and orbital decay, drawing international attention to the end-of-life phase of large spacecraft. Its successful operation paved the way for its successor, Tiangong-2, and the development of the larger Tiangong space station program.

## Notable For
- Being China's first prototype space station.
- Hosting the Shenzhou 9 and Shenzhou 10 crewed missions.
- Undergoing a widely publicized uncontrolled reentry in 2018.
- Serving as a technology demonstrator for the Tiangong program.
- Being launched by the Long March 2F rocket.

## Body

### Technical Specifications and Launch
Tiangong-1, officially named "Tiangong 1 Target Flight Vehicle" (天宫一号目标飞行器), was a space laboratory with a mass of 8,506 kilograms. It launched on September 29, 2011, at 13:16:03 UTC from the Jiuquan Launch Complex 43/91 atop a Long March 2F launch vehicle. The vehicle maintained an orbit with an apoapsis of 362 kilometers, a periapsis of 355 kilometers, and an inclination of 42 degrees.

### Crewed Operations
During its operational life, Tiangong-1 was visited by two crews:
*   **Shenzhou 9 (June 18–28, 2012):** Jing Haipeng, Liu Wang, and Liu Yang.
*   **Shenzhou 10 (June 13–25, 2013):** Nie Haisheng, Zhang Xiaoguang, and Wang Yaping.

### Mission Conclusion
After completing its mission objectives, the station remained in orbit until its orbital decay led to an uncontrolled reentry. The event occurred on April 2, 2018, at 00:15 UTC. It is classified as a "former entity" and was followed in the Tiangong program by Tiangong-2.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report
2. China's Tiangong-1 space station crashes into Pacific
3. [Source](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/apr/02/tiangong-1-crash-china-space-station)
4. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
5. [Source](http://www.heavens-above.com/PassSummary.aspx?satid=37820&lat=0&lng=0&loc=Unspecified&alt=0&tz=CET)
6. [Source](http://www.people.com.cn/h/2011/1001/c25408-1418236438.html)
7. Quora