Despite threats to leave the ISS, the signing of a space cooperation agreement with China, and an ardent desire to land on China’s Tiangong Space Station (CCS), the Russians will not be able to implement these plans. China is not waiting for the Russians on Tiangong. This was stated by the representative of the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC) Yang Yuguang during the launch of the cargo ship Tianzhou-4.

The problem is the inclination of the station’s orbit, which is 41.58 °. That is, it will be difficult for ships launching from spaceports located further south or north to reach the CCS. The inclination of the ISS orbit is 51.4 °. Baikonur is located at 45.96 ° north latitude, the Vostochny spaceport is 51.88 ° north latitude, and the Plesetsk military spaceport is almost 63 ° north latitude. That is, none of them get to the Chinese space station.

At the same time, from the ESA spaceport in Kourou (5.22 ° north latitude), from the American John F. Kennedy Space Center (28.52 ° north latitude), the Japanese Naro Space Center (34.43 ° north latitude) and even from New Zealand Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 (39.26 ° south latitude) is very easy to do. Yes, the editorial office is aware that neither Rocket Lab nor Japan has rockets to send humans to space yet, but the CCS will be used for decades. China itself is working with its station from the new Wenchang spaceport on Hainan Island, located at 19.61 ° north latitude.

The representative of China stressed that China is considering nine proposals from 17 countries for various experiments at the station.

As for the CCC itself, its development is going according to plan. In July 2022, the launch of the Wentian laboratory module is planned, its length is 17.9 m, diameter 4.2 m, weight approximately 20,000 kg. For October 2022 – Mengtian laboratory module with the same parameters. They will significantly expand the working volume and capabilities of the station.

The second expedition (Shenzhou 13) left the station on April 15, 2022, spending 182 days in orbit. The new one (Shenzhou 14) is scheduled for June 5, 2022. They will meet the new modules. Meanwhile, the automatic cargo ship Tianzhou 4, which started on May 9, 2022, docked with the station on May 10.

It seems that the Chinese space program is already significantly ahead of Russia. And this is another factor why China’s cooperation with Russia in space is not very interesting. Congratulations to Roscosmos and Mr. Rogozin personally.