CURRENT AFFAIRS

Detailed explanation-1: -It is China’s first long-term space station, part of the Tiangong program and the core of the “Third Step” of the China Manned Space Program (CMS); it has a pressurised volume of 340 m³ (12, 000 cu ft), slightly over one third the size of the International Space Station.

Detailed explanation-2: -On Nov. 29, 2022, the Shenzhou 15 mission launched from China’s Gobi Desert carrying three taikonauts – the Chinese word for astronauts. Six hours later, they reached their destination, China’s recently completed space station, called Tiangong, which means “heavenly palace” in Mandarin.

Detailed explanation-3: -China has completed construction of the Tiangong space station, which will play an important role in their ambitious plans for space activity in coming years. Three taikonauts rode aboard the Shenzhou 15 mission on their way to China’s new Tiangong space station.

Detailed explanation-4: -The main function of the Tiangong station is to perform research on life in space. There is a particular focus on learning about the growth and development of different types of plants, animals and microorganisms, and there are more than 1, 000 experiments planned for the next 10 years.