The ISS vs China's Tiangong: Which is better?

国际空间站 vs 中国“天宫”：哪个更好？

In April of 2021, China’s Tiangong space station joined the International Space Station (ISS) in low orbit and is now waiting for the rest of its modules scheduled to join it in the coming years.

2021年4月，中国的“天宫”空间站成功进入低轨道，剩余的模块计划在未来几年对接。

The question then becomes how do these two space stations compare? What are the technical differences between the two of them? How much does each one cost? Why is Tiangong important for China? What will happen when the ISS dies?

这两个空间站相比如何？两者在技术上有什么区别？各自花费多少资金？为什么天宫对中国很重要？国际空间站停止运转后会发生什么?

On the surface, the two stations may seem quite similar with the main difference being that Tiangong is much smaller.

从表面上看，这两个空间站看起来很相似，主要的区别是“天宫”要小得多。

Even after all of its planned modules are fully deployed, the Tiangong will only possess a fifth of the mass of the ISS.

即使在所有计划的模块全部部署完毕后，“天宫”的重量也只有国际空间站的五分之一。

However, despite its small size, the Tiangong is slated to be able to house 12 astronauts whereas the ISS can only host a maxmum of 13 despite its massive size. One could argue that Tiangong is extremely space-efficient.

然而，尽管“天宫”体积很小，预计还是能容纳12名宇航员，而国际空间站尽管体积巨大，最多只能容纳13名宇航员。有人可能会说，“天宫”极其节省空间。

But that’s not the only difference between the two stations. The stations differ in terms of modules, generations, docking systems, structures, robotic arms and airlocks, experiments, and even purposes. But perhaps the most profound differences lie in the circumstances behind their respective programs.

但这并不是两者之间唯一的区别。两个空间站在模块、对接系统、结构、机械臂和气闸、实验，甚至目的等方面都有所不同。也许最深刻的差异在于他们各自项目背后的环境。

以下是Youtube上网友的评论：

Jaye chow

All thanks to the US, China has finally mastered space exploration. Next stop, semiconductor especially the 3rd generation.

多亏了美国的刺激，中国终于掌握了太空探索技术。下一个突破是半导体，尤其是第三代。

ABDI SHAKUR

Whatever that doesnt kill you will make you strongee

凡是不能杀死你的，都会让你变得更强大

Philip

Hang on. In my memory , ISS was originally built by Russia and then owned by multiple countries on an agreement. When was it owned by us independently ? Am I wrong ?

坚持下去。在我的记忆中，国际空间站最初是由俄罗斯建造的，然后根据协议由多个国家共同建造。什么时候变成美国独立拥有的了?我弄错了吗?

FRA J

It's actually quite inspiring for not giving up after being banned from ISS by the US.

美国不让进入国际空间站，这实际上是鼓舞人心的，好在中国没有放弃。

kumamon

History's greatest "Fine I'll do it myself'

史上最强回应："好吧，那我自己建"

Flyingaceful

Lol! US didn’t build the ISS along! We had to depend on other countries.

哈哈，国际空间站不是美国独自建造的，我们不得不依赖其他国家。

lyle lai

The International Space Station has 119 components. Russia has launched 76 times, 73 successes and 3 failures~! The United States launched 31 times, 29 successes, and 2 failures~! Europe launched 5 times and 5 successes,~! Japan launched 7 times and 7 successes~!! This is also called the U.S. Domination. It is obviously a Russian space station.

国际空间站有119个组件。

俄罗斯发射了76次，73次成功，3次失败~!

美国发射了31次，29次成功，2次失败~!

欧洲发射了5次，5次成功，~!

日本发射了7次，7次成功~!!

美国成了主导，这空间站显然是俄罗斯的。

MF G

Please kick America module out from ISS to become a truly international. Otherwise don't call yourself "International" if you unable to accommodate the Chinese.

请把美国舱从国际空间站拆掉，让它成为真正的国际舱。否则，如果不让中国人上，就不要称之为“国际空间站”。

pu zhao

TIANGONG is not exclusive, it just kicked the US out.

“天宫”不排他

Paulby88

China say you not invited me to the party. China say we will start our own party

中国说你不邀请我上去，那我们自己建一个空间站

Sun。 XC

When did the international space station become American?

国际空间站什么时候变成美国的了?

Mark Yong

Why ISS only got US flag??? China's is fully own by china.

为什么国际空间站只有美国国旗？

中国的“天宫”完全属于中国。

Lujia Gao

Thanks to the newer technology, the Tiangong has better solar cells, much more efficient orbit-adjusting motors and better usable space.

得益于更新的技术，“天宫”有更好的太阳能电池，更有效的轨道调整发动机和更好的可用空间。

Gary Chia

I'll give you guys a straight example: ISS is an 90's old fashion mansion, meanwhile TianGong is 21st century smart home...

我给你们打个直接的比方：国际空间站是90年代的老时尚大厦，而“天宫”是21世纪的智能家居……

Lab204 Forest

Competition is good for everyone. NASA used the progress of Chinese space program as a justification to ask more budget from the Congress. The faster CSP advances, more budget NASA receives.

竞争对每个人都有好处。美国宇航局以中国太空计划进展快为由，向国会要求更多预算。中国太空计划进展得越快，美国宇航局得到的预算就越多。

timothy1949

the chinese spacestation didn't come from nowhere and sudden emerges, it is from multi decades of careful planning and hardwork. the irony of US government banning any cooperation between NASA and China in space but itself partnering even with Russia is a clear sign that the USA wanted to deny the Chinese technology and naively thought that this would help keep China outside of the club.

But, in 1 year time, China would be the only country operating its own complete space station, and in 2 to 3 years times the CSS would be the only space station in orbit should the ISS retires. however, unlike the US government, China has been more opened to cooperation. European astronauts have been training with the Chinese in China to prepare for one day, that they would be part of a mission to stay in the CSS.

中国空间站不是凭空出现的，而是经过几十年的精心规划和努力。讽刺的是，美国政府禁止NASA和中国在太空领域开展合作，自己却与俄罗斯合作，这是一个明确的信号。

但是，在1年的时间里，中国成为了唯一一个运行自己空间站的国家，而在2到3年的时间里，如果国际空间站退役，中国空间站将成为轨道上唯一的空间站。

然而，与美国不同的是，中国对合作更加开放。

欧洲宇航员一直在中国与中国宇航员一起训练，为他们将来留在中国航天系统的任务做准备。

J Tareh

The question is not which space station is better or worse, that is not what is at stake for humanity.

I hope that more countries can access space so that one day humanity can gain infinity, with also infinite possibilities.

Let's not make this a competition, but a new option for the terraqueos to live.

问题不是哪个空间站更好。我希望更多的国家能够进入太空。

我们不要把这当成一场竞争，而应看做一个新的生存选择。

A.Shikato Swu

The difference is US has combined ISS where as China has it's own without any other countries support.

不同的是，美国组合了国际空间站，而中国是自己的，没有其他国家的支持。

Case Yap

ISS is a dated time-share hostel whereby all the astronauts are confined and put to sleep together in a tiny space

CSS is a new private villa equipped with latest technologies and most importantly,  individual beds with curtain are assigned to the Taikonaults.

国际空间站是过时的旅馆，宇航员都被限制在一个狭小的空间里睡觉

中国空间站是新的私人别墅，配备了最新的技术，最重要的是，每个宇航员都配备单独的床位，还有帘子。

Ganbat Gabi

I love Tiangong. From SKorea

我喜欢“天宫”。

Seeds of Asia .

Congratulations China  you are an incredible

祝贺中国，真是不可思议！

timothy

China's space exploration is not for competition, she does not care what other countries are doing in their own space projects, she simply concentrates on her own and minds her own business.

中国探索太空不是为了竞争，她不在乎其他国家的太空项目在做什么，她只专注于自己的事情