space station: China to double size of space station, touts alternative to NASA-led ISS
China's space station, Tiangong, plans to expand to six modules from three, offering astronauts from other countries an alternative to the International Space Station (ISS). The Chinese Academy of Space Technology announced that the operational lifetime of Tiangong will be more than 15 years, longer than previously announced. The ISS, which has been in orbit for over two decades, is expected to be decommissioned after 2030.