What’s Next for China Space Station?中國空間站的未來計劃是什么？

The Mengtian lab module， the Tianhe core module and the Wentian lab module—the three modules have formed a T-shaped complex at the space station by the end of 2022.

2022年底，夢天實驗艙、天和核心艙、問天實驗艙，三個艙段已完成中國空間站的“T字構型”建造任務。

About the Newcomer

Mengtian means “Dreaming of the Heavens”. The module weighs more than 20 tonnes. Its 17.88 meters long and has a maximum diameter of 4.2 meters. It can be further subdivided into work， resource， payload and cargo airlock modules.

Its only function is to conduct scientific experiments， so unlike the Tianhe core module and the Wentian lab module， it doesnt have a sleeping cabin. Instead， its full of cabinets that can satisfy hundreds of experiments.

Specifically， the module is designed for microgravity research. Its equipped with multi-disciplinary laboratory cabinets for experiments of fluid physics， materials and combustion science， basic physics and aerospace technology.

關于夢天

夢天表達了人們對太空探索的向往。夢天實驗艙的重量超過20噸，長17.88米，最大直徑4.2米。它可以細分為工作艙、資源艙、載荷艙和貨物氣閘艙。

與天和核心艙和問天實驗艙不同，夢天實驗艙的唯一功能就是進行科學實驗，所以它沒有設置睡眠艙。但是，艙內有很多實驗柜，能開展數百種科學實驗。

具體來說，夢天實驗艙主要用于微重力研究。它配備了多學科實驗柜，用來進行流體物理、材料與燃燒科學、基礎物理和航空航天技術相關實驗。

Future Plans

China plans to launch its first flagship telescope， Xuntian， which means “Survey the Heavens”， at the end of 2023. Its a space-based optical observatory for astronomers to carry out celestial surveys and capture maps and images. Its operations will begin in 2024.

Chinas space program has entered a new decade-long development and application stage. The initial plan is to send two crewed and two cargo crafts into space every year.

Meanwhile， astronauts will stay in orbit for extended periods to maintain the station and carry out scientific and technological experiments.

China will also develop next-generation carrier rockets and crewed spaceships to significantly enhance its space programs overall technological capabilities.

China has expressed on many occasions that it welcomes international cooperation and foreign astronauts to conduct research aboard its space station. So， lets expect to unravel more mysteries of the universe at Chinas space station.

未來計劃

中國計劃在2023年底發射首個旗艦望遠鏡“巡天”。巡天是一個天基光學天文臺，供天文學家進行天體勘測，以及捕捉地圖和圖像。巡天將于2024年開始運行。

中國航天事業已進入一個新的十年發展和應用階段。初步計劃是每年向太空發射兩艘載人飛船和兩艘貨運飛船。

與此同時，宇航員將延長在軌道停留時間，以進行空間站的維護和科學技術實驗。

中國還將研發下一代運載火箭和載人飛船，以顯著提高中國航天的整體技術水平。

中國曾多次表示，歡迎國際合作，歡迎外國宇航員到中國空間站進行研究。因此，讓我們期待在中國空間站揭開更多的宇宙奧秘。

Word Bank

conduct /k?n'd?kt/ v. 執行；實施

I decided to conduct an experiment.

launch /l??nt?/ v. 發射；發起（有組織的活動）

unravel /?n'r?vl/ v. 揭開；闡釋

The discovery will help scientists unravel the mystery of the Ice Age.