Table of Contents
Why in NEWS
- China unveiled a replica of its first permanently crewed space station.
- It would replace the ISS, international community’s orbiting laboratory .
Tiangong- The Heavenly Palace
- The 60-tonne orbiting lab will feature a 17-meter (55 foot) core module
- Assembly is expected to be completed around 2022, with a 10 year lifespan
- Three astronauts will be permanently stationed to run scientific experiments
China in Space
- China will use its station in a similar way as the ISS partners are using their outpost: research, technology and as a stepping stone for deep-space exploration.
- The country announced in May that the lab would be open to “all countries” to conduct science experiments.
- Space markets and glitches
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION?
1.The International Space Station (ISS) is a space station, or a habitable artificial satellite, in low Earth orbit.
2.It is collaboration between the United States, Russia, Canada, Europe and Japan.
3.The ISS is the largest human-made body in low Earth orbit and can often be seen with the naked eye from Earth.
- The ISS serves as a microgravity and space environment research laboratory in which crew members conduct experiments in biology, human biology, physics, astronomy, meteorology, and other fields.
- The station is suited for the testing of spacecraft systems and equipment required for missions to the Moon and Mars.
- Its first component launched into orbit in 1998, and the last pressurized module was fitted in 2011 and is expected to operate until at least 2028/2024.
- It consists of pressurized modules, external trusses, solar arrays.
Why Should We Build Space Stations?
- Research, industry, exploration
- Space stations are a place to do cutting edge scientific research in an environment that cannot be matched on Earth(CRYSTALS)
- To study the Earth’s weather, landforms, vegetation, oceans and atmosphere.
Can India develop space station?
- The country has the capability to develop a space station, but it needed a longterm approach and an ambitious planning.
- Funds and time
- We still talk about what would be the immediate benefits of a manned space mission
- Prioritization is important for ISRO, which is already conducting three times the rocket launches than its capacity, . For instance, according to estimates, building and maintaining a space station like the International Space Station costs about 100 billion euros — over 100 times the annual budget of ISRO.
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