China Reveals Earth's First New Modular Space Station in Over 20 Years
The first components of the International Space Station (ISS) launched into space more than 20 years ago, and it's been continuously occupied for 18.
Right now, it's the only operational space station in orbit - but that's about to change.
China just unveiled a life-size replica of the core module of the country's new space station at Airshow China, the largest aerospace exhibition in the country.
The space station program is called Tiangong, which means "Heavenly Palace" in Chinese.
The new ISS competitor's central module is 55 feet (17 meters) long, weighs 60 tons (54 tonnes), and can fit three astronauts.
That's actually quite a bit smaller than the ISS, which is about as large as an American football field if you count its large solar panels. (Wang Zhao/AFP/Getty Images)
The new space station will allow astronauts to conduct cutting-edge scientific research in the fields of biology and microgravity, according to the Associated Press.
The new stati…
