Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
天宫 translates to "Heavenly Palace" in English. It refers to China's space station program, which aims to establish a permanent human presence in space.
神舟 (shén zhōu): This term refers to China's manned spacecraft series. The Shenzhou spacecraft carries astronauts into orbit and plays a crucial role in the development of the 天宫 space station.
载人航天 (zài rén háng tiān): This term refers to manned spaceflight or human space exploration. It encompasses all activities related to sending humans into space, including missions to 天宫.
宇航员 (yǔ háng yuán): This term translates to "astronaut" or "cosmonaut." It specifically refers to individuals who are trained and travel into outer space as part of manned missions like those involving 天宫.