TRACKER GUIDE & MISSION EXPLAINER
Tiangong Space Station Tracker: Orbit, Mission and Viewing Guide
The Tiangong tracker above shows the calculated position of China's crewed space station as it travels around Earth. It combines a current orbital element set with SGP4 propagation to display the station's ground position, altitude, speed, orbit path and observer-relative pass information.
Tiangong means Heavenly Palace. The present station should not be confused with the earlier Tiangong-1 and Tiangong-2 experimental laboratories. The operational complex began with the Tianhe core module and was expanded with the Wentian and Mengtian laboratory modules.
How Tiangong was assembled
The Tianhe core module launched on April 29, 2021 and provided living quarters, propulsion, guidance and docking facilities. Wentian launched in July 2022 and Mengtian followed in October 2022. After relocation into their permanent positions, the three large modules formed the station's familiar T-shaped configuration.
Crewed Shenzhou spacecraft and robotic Tianzhou cargo vehicles visit the station. The orbit is intentionally low enough for regular access but high enough to support long-duration operations. Atmospheric drag still changes the orbit, so the station must be monitored and periodically adjusted.
What the live map is showing
The moving marker represents the computed point directly beneath Tiangong. Latitude and longitude therefore describe the ground position, not a place where the station is landing. Altitude is its estimated height above Earth, while speed is the magnitude of its orbital motion.
The line wrapped around the globe is a propagated ground track. As Earth turns under the inclined orbital plane, later passes shift across different longitudes. The calculation is driven by the selected Tiangong catalog object and is independent of images or crew communications.
How to find a Tiangong pass
- Set your observer coordinates using the location control.
- Check the next geometric pass and maximum elevation.
- Use azimuth to identify the rise direction and follow the path across the sky.
- Recalculate near the planned observation time so fresher orbital data can be used.
- Look for a steady moving point rather than an aircraft with blinking navigation lights.
Actual visibility depends on whether the station is illuminated by the Sun, whether your sky is dark enough and whether clouds or obstructions are present. A low pass can remain hidden behind buildings or trees even when the mathematical elevation is above zero.
Science and educational value
Tiangong supports microgravity research in areas including fluid physics, materials, combustion and fundamental physics. The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs has also worked with the China Manned Space Agency on opportunities for international experiments aboard the China Space Station.
For classroom use, compare Tiangong with the ISS. Both are crewed laboratories in low Earth orbit, but their module histories, partnerships, sizes and orbital parameters differ. Students can record pass times, maximum elevations and ground tracks to see how inclination and observer latitude affect access to an orbit.
Understanding limitations
SpaceTracker.live is not connected to the station and does not show crew activities, docking status or official telemetry. A sudden manoeuvre may not appear until the orbital data provider publishes an updated element set. Treat the page as an educational orbital estimate and consult official programme information for mission operations.
Frequently asked questions
Is this the same spacecraft as Tiangong-1?
No. Tiangong-1 and Tiangong-2 were earlier experimental laboratories. This tracker follows the modular China Space Station built around Tianhe.
Does the tracker show astronauts inside Tiangong?
No. It displays the calculated orbit of the station as a whole and does not provide crew or interior information.
Can Tiangong be visible without a telescope?
It can be visible during favourable illuminated passes, but brightness and local conditions vary. A geometric pass alone is not a visibility guarantee.
Why do Tiangong pass predictions change?
The station experiences drag and occasional orbit adjustments. New element sets improve the estimate and can move future rise and set times.
Sources and further reading
- China National Space Administration: Tiangong assembly
- UNOOSA: China Space Station cooperation
- CelesTrak orbital data
Educational-use note: SpaceTracker.live is an independent educational website and is not an official mission-control service. Positions, paths, distances and pass predictions are computed from third-party orbital elements or ephemerides. They may be delayed or approximate and must not be used for navigation, collision avoidance or safety-critical decisions.
Last reviewed: August 21, 2026