【March 11, 2014, CMSP News】 China's first target spacecraft Tiangong-1 has exceeded its planned two-year operational lifespan and entered the extended application phase, according to the sixth meeting of Tiangong-1 Operation and Management Committee.

Launched on September 29, 2011, Tiangong-1 has carried out three rendezvous and docking missions. After successful docking with Shenzhou 10, Tiangong-1 entered the in-orbit operation management phase on June 27, 2013. Since then, Tiangong-1 has undergone flying mode switches, device inspections, harmful gas tests, orbit maintenance maneuvers, etc. 

With payloads such as earth observation and space environment detectors on board, Tiangong-1 has obtained a great deal of application and science data, which is valuable in mineral resources investigation, ocean and forest application, hydrologic and ecological environment monitoring, land use, urban thermal environment monitoring and emergency disaster control. Remarkable application benefits have been achieved. For example, Tiangong-1 provided timely hyperspectral observation data during the Yuyao flood disaster and image data during the Australia forest fire.

Tiangong-1 has been in orbit for more than 890 days up to now. At present, it’s in stable and normal condition with all systems operating normally and consumable resources meeting needs of follow-up tasks. (By Yu Yanjuan)