There are currently two space stations orbiting the Earth. The International Space Station (ISS) has been in operation since 1998 while the Chinese-made Tiangong space station has been in operation since 2022. With the ISS set to be deorbited by 2030, China has shared plans to further expand the size of Tiangong in the near future,
Tiangong, which has four modules, will be expanded to have six modules. Its weight will also increase to 180 metric tons compared to the current 70 metric tons. The two additional modules will increase Tiangong's ability to conduct experiments and also cooperate with other countries.
China will begin allowing astronauts from Pakistan, Macau and Hong Kong to be on the Tiangong crew this year. After the ISS is deorbited, China wants to make Tiangong a global laboratory open to all.
Tiangong will not remain a space station in low Earth orbit. Russia wants to return to building its own space station, as well as several private companies from the United States.
