Today, April 29, is the fifth anniversary of the stable operation of the Tianhe core module of the Chinese Space Station in orbit.Five years ago today, the Long March 5B Yao-2 carrier rocket carrying the Tianhe core module was ignited and lifted off at the Wenchang Space Launch Site in my country, sending the first "building block" of the "Tiangong" space station into space.
The Tianhe core module is the first module launched into orbit by the Chinese Space Station. It has a total length of 16.6 meters and a maximum diameter of 4.2 meters. It is composed of a node module, a small column section, a large column section, a rear passage and a resource module. It provides space science and living environment for astronauts and supports long-term residence in orbit.
As the "intelligent brain" and center of the space station, the Tianhe core module plays the role ofSpace Station Management and Control CenterIt plays a key role in the unified control and management of the space station. It supports the rendezvous, docking and docking of spacecraft such as experimental modules, manned spacecraft, and cargo spacecraft. It supports the conduct of space science experiments and is also the main living area for astronauts.
Tianhe core cabin is equipped withSix areas: work area, sleeping area, hygiene area, dining area, medical supervision area and exercise area, not only can ensure that each astronaut has an independent sleeping environment, but also is equipped with microwaves, refrigerators, water dispensers, folding tables and other furniture in the dining area, as well as space treadmills and other fitness equipment to meet the astronauts' daily exercise needs.
During its five years of operation in orbit, the Tianhe core module, as the "veteran-class" module, witnessed the docking and transposition of the two experimental modules Wentian and Mengtian, forming the basic "T" configuration of the space station. It welcomed the docking of 11 Shenzhou manned spacecraft and 8 Tianzhou cargo spacecraft, and welcomed the visits of 10 astronaut crews and a total of 25 Chinese astronauts.
Tianhe core module welcomes visiting spacecraft in orbit
In the past five years, as a national space laboratory, the space station has carried out a number of cutting-edge and innovative space science, applied experiments and technology test projects, covering four major research areas and 32 research themes: space life and human body research, microgravity physical science, space astronomy and earth science, and new space technologies and applications.
As of the end of 2025, 267 scientific and application projects have been deployed and implemented in orbit, a total of 9 batches of experimental samples have been downloaded, and a total of more than 450TB of scientific data have been acquired in orbit.
For the first time in the world, new germplasm resources for space-developed rice and regenerated rice were obtained, for the first time human embryonic stem cells in space were differentiated into hematopoietic stem/precursor cells, for the first time the space station submagnetic-microgravity composite space environmental biology research was carried out, and for the first time an on-orbit test of the space station pipeline inspection robot was carried out...
Some of the results have been transferred, transformed, promoted and applied, significantly promoting the rapid development of space science and applications in my country.
The astronaut crew conducts space science experiments in orbit
China Space Station Scientific Research and Application Progress Report
In the past five years, my country has carried out a total of 26 astronauts and multiple payloads, of which the Tianhe core module node module supported the completion of 5 extravehicular activities.
The astronauts carried out extravehicular activities as planned, verified relevant technologies, carried out extravehicular assembly, carried out extravehicular maintenance, and carried out active protection. They constantly refreshed the number and duration of extravehicular activities and set new world records.
At present, the Chinese space station is operating stably in orbit and performing well.
Chinese astronauts conduct extravehicular activities
This year,China's manned space program plans to implement one cargo spacecraft supply mission and two manned missions.
Astronauts from Hong Kong and Macao are expected to carry out space station missions as early as this year, and one astronaut from the Shenzhou 23 flight crew will conduct a one-year residency test.
In addition, the development and construction of various tasks for the lunar landing phase of the manned lunar exploration project are progressing smoothly, and a number of phased breakthroughs have been achieved.
Up to now, the development of major flight products such as the Long March 10 launch vehicle, Mengzhou manned spacecraft, and the Moon Lander are progressing smoothly.
Many large-scale tests, including the low-altitude demonstration of the Long March 10 launch vehicle system and the maximum dynamic pressure escape flight of the Mengzhou manned spacecraft system, have been completed.
The project will also make every effort to promote the construction of the Wenchang Space Launch Site, supporting facilities and equipment related to the lunar landing mission, as well as the construction of various ground support system projects such as measurement and control communications, landing sites, etc., aiming to achieve the goal of Chinese people landing on the moon for the first time before 2030!
The development and construction of various tasks in the lunar landing phase of the manned lunar exploration project are progressing smoothly