China releases first images of its completed Tiangong space station

China has for the first time released images of its brand-new completed space station, Tiangong, sometimes dubbed the "Chinese response" to the International Space Station (ISS).

As reported by Space.Com, the images were posted on the website of the Chinese Manned Space Agency, showcasing the space station that orbits the Earth at approximately 425 km.

Construction of the Tiangong space station was completed in the previous year, but images of it have only been made public recently. Astronauts have been living and working on the space station since 2021.

The images were captured by astronauts using high-definition cameras during the Shenzhou 16 mission. This marked the first time a full-scale image of the space station assembly, with Earth as the background, was obtained, providing a comprehensive view of the entire structure.

Tiangong, translating to "heavenly palace," is approximately one-fifth the size of the ISS and can accommodate three astronauts or six individuals during a short handover period.