China is advancing a cutting-edge space telescope designed to match Hubble's astronomical prowess. If timelines hold, Xuntian could launch as early as 2024, bolstering the nation's orbital capabilities.
China's Tiangong (Heavenly Palace) space station is poised to complement the International Space Station in low Earth orbit, eventually operating independently. This three-module outpost will host taikonauts for experiments and deep-space mission preparations.
Upon completion, Tiangong will welcome the Xuntian space telescope, slated for a 2024 orbital insertion. Featuring a 2-meter primary mirror—close to Hubble's 2.4-meter aperture—Xuntian promises a field of view 300 times wider than the 31-year-old NASA icon, while delivering comparable resolution.
This expansive view enables Xuntian to survey up to 40% of the sky over a decade in near-ultraviolet and visible wavelengths, unlocking unprecedented datasets for astronomers worldwide.
Xuntian will co-orbit with Tiangong, enabling periodic docking for resupply and upgrades. As Zhou Jianping, chief designer of China's human spaceflight program, noted last March: "This will help us refuel the telescope and perform upgrades directly in orbit."
In contrast, Hubble relied on multiple Space Shuttle missions for maintenance. Xuntian's in-orbit servicing marks a significant engineering leap for China.
Supporting this effort, four dedicated research centers are under construction to process Xuntian's data. Key science goals include probing dark matter and dark energy properties, tracing galaxy formation and evolution, and tracking Trans-Neptunian Objects (TNOs) plus near-Earth asteroids.
China plans 11 launches through next year—including four crewed flights—to assemble Tiangong. The Tianhe core module lifts off soon from Wenchang via Long March 5.
