Solar System Simulator · Spacecraft · Earth orbit
Where is Tiangong?
China’s three-module laboratory in Earth orbit.
Orbit estimates load from the bundled CelesTrak snapshot, then refresh when the station feed is available.
The spacecraft
Tiangong is China’s crewed space station. Its Tianhe core module launched in April 2021; the Wentian and Mengtian laboratories joined in 2022 to form a T-shaped station. Shenzhou spacecraft carry crews, and Tianzhou vehicles deliver supplies. It is a separate station from the ISS.
Mission timeline
| When | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 2021-04-29 | Tianhe core launches |
| 2021-06 | First crew arrives |
| 2022-07 | Wentian laboratory joins |
| 2022-10 | Mengtian laboratory launches |
| 2022-11 | Three-module T configuration |
Orbit and visibility
Altitude is height above Earth’s surface, not distance from you. A spacecraft in low Earth orbit travels around the planet in roughly an hour and a half. Seeing it from the ground depends on your location, the Sun and the spacecraft’s path; this page does not predict local passes.
Mission facts from China Manned Space →
What the simulator does
- Open this spacecraft in the simulator to see its own card.
- Use the previous and next arrows to compare it with other spacecraft.
- Open Now → ISS, Hubble and Tiangong to see the group orbiting Earth; selecting a station opens its card.
Questions people ask
Does Tiangong orbit Earth?
Yes. It travels in low Earth orbit. The altitude and period above are estimates from orbital elements, not a live telemetry connection.
How fresh are the numbers?
The page starts with a saved CelesTrak snapshot and requests the latest available station feed. The date of the orbital elements is shown alongside the estimates.
Is the model its exact current configuration?
No. The model is an inspection illustration; solar-array attitude and visiting vehicles can change.
Keep going
Orbit calculation: the same element-based model used by the simulator. Mission facts are linked above.