China to double size of space station, touts alternative to Nasa-led ISS

China plans to expand its space station, Tiangong, to six modules in the coming years, offering an alternative platform for near-Earth missions as the International Space Station (ISS) nears the end of its lifespan. The Chinese space station will have an operational lifetime of more than 15 years, and China expects to become a major space power by 2030.