On April 29, 2021, the Tianhe core module lifted off into orbit, marking the start of construction for China's Space Station. Four years later, this engineering marvel remains the heart of a growing orbital outpost.
Designed to handle astronaut life support, orbital control and information management, Tianhe has welcomed two lab modules—Wentian and Mengtian—to form the station's distinctive "T" configuration. Together, they anchor a new era of sustained human presence in low Earth orbit.
Since its debut, Tianhe has hosted nine crewed missions, from Shenzhou-12 to Shenzhou-20. Crew members have conducted spacewalks, operated robotic arms and delivered lectures from orbit, while dozens of scientific experiments in biology, fluid physics and more have advanced our understanding of microgravity.
Now in its fourth year of operation, Tianhe signals a shift toward stable, high-quality development for China's manned space program. With the latest Shenzhou-20 crew onboard, the station will ramp up experiments in space medicine, life sciences and material science, laying the groundwork for future research and international collaboration that benefits all humanity.
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Four years on: Check out China's Tianhe core module's journey
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