China News
DRAGON SPACE
Tiangong science program delivers data surge
illustration only

Tiangong science program delivers data surge

by Riko Seibo
Tokyo, Japan (SPX) Jan 09, 2026

Chinese astronauts and ground-based science teams completed 86 new scientific and technological tasks on the Tiangong space station in 2025, underscoring the outpost's expanding role in research, according to the China Manned Space Agency.

The agency said that in 2025 a total of 1,179 kilograms of experimental instruments, materials, and other necessities for science and technology missions were transported to Tiangong, while 105 kilograms of experimental samples were brought back to Earth for further study. More than 150 terabits of scientific data were transmitted from the station to ground control.

Major accomplishments on board the station in 2025 included China's first in-orbit experiments involving rodent mammals and what the agency described as the world's first in-orbit tests of a pipe-checking robot.

Chinese researchers published more than 230 academic papers and registered over 70 patents during 2025 that drew on experiments and data from Tiangong, the agency noted.

Completed in late 2022, Tiangong is currently the only operating space station independently run by a single nation and orbits Earth at an altitude of about 400 kilometers. With an overall mass of about 100 metric tons, it is one of the largest and most complex structures assembled in space.

The station has three permanent components, the Tianhe core module and two large science lab modules called Wentian and Mengtian, and is currently connected with two visiting craft, the Shenzhou XXII crew ship and the Tianzhou 9 cargo ship.

To date, Tiangong has accommodated 25 astronauts from 10 crews, with several astronauts taking part in two spaceflights to the outpost. By the end of last year, 265 scientific and technological projects had been arranged or conducted on board, covering life science, microgravity physics, and new space technologies, according to the agency.

Related Links
China Manned Space Agency
The Chinese Space Program - News, Policy and Technology
China News from SinoDaily.com

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
DRAGON SPACE
China harnesses nationwide system to drive spaceflight and satellite navigation advances
Tokyo, Japan (SPX) Jan 08, 2026
China's manned space program has used a nationwide resource mobilization system to manage a recent contingency involving the Shenzhou-20 mission and to launch its follow-on Shenzhou-22 spacecraft within 20 days. After the Shenzhou-20 return vehicle suffered minor window damage from space debris, the China Manned Space Agency activated its first contingency plan of this kind, coordinating experts and factories across the country to secure the crew's safe return and prepare a replacement vehicle. ... read more

DRAGON SPACE
China harnesses nationwide system to drive spaceflight and satellite navigation advances

Shenzhou 21 crew complete eight hour spacewalk outside Tiangong station

Foreign satellites ride Kinetica 1 on new CAS Space mission

Experts at Hainan symposium call for stronger global space partnership

DRAGON SPACE
Asian markets mixed as traders eye US jobs data

Japan urges China to drop 'unacceptable' new export controls

Oil extends losses as Trump flags Venezuela shipments, stocks mixed

Canada's Carney to visit China, signaling thaw in relations

DRAGON SPACE
DRAGON SPACE
Trump says doubts 'NATO would be there for us' if needed

Could Trump's desire for Greenland blow up NATO?

Macron says allies agree 'robust' security guarantees for Ukraine; Germany could join multinational force

Trump's withdrawal list masks US pullback from climate, security and development bodies

DRAGON SPACE
Crown ether resins modeled for precise gadolinium isotope separation

Japan nuclear official loses phone with confidential data in China

Microbes join forces to quickly clean up uranium pollution

Project Pele microreactor reaches key milestone with first TRISO fuel delivery

DRAGON SPACE
Lithuania assessing damage to undersea telecom cable to Latvia

Tech campaigner decries US 'punishment' after visa sanctions

China says strengthens controls on dual-use exports to Japan

Israel's govt says ban on Gaza media access should stay: court document

DRAGON SPACE
Crown ether resins modeled for precise gadolinium isotope separation

Japan nuclear official loses phone with confidential data in China

Microbes join forces to quickly clean up uranium pollution

Project Pele microreactor reaches key milestone with first TRISO fuel delivery

DRAGON SPACE
Trump gets wrong country, wrong bird in windmill rant

S.Africa seeks to save birds from wind turbine risks

Vertical wind turbines may soon power UK railways using tunnel airflow

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.