Is Tiangong space station fake? Viral water conspiracy theory debunked

A video from the Tiangong space station has sparked a conspiracy theory among a section of users on X.

A popular conservative user on the platform “Concerned Citizen,” well-known for their denial of many mainstream narratives, posted a clip of a stable glass of water at the space station. The X user, who identifies themself as “Conspiracy Realist/Coincidence Analyzer,” questioned the authenticity of Tiangong, implying that the video was staged on Earth.

While many joined Concerned Citizen to call the China-operated space station fake, similar claims have already been debunked by the Associated Press. AP fact-checked the said video in 2023 with the help of an expert to reaffirm that the Tiangong space station is indeed real. Per the viral claim, a vessel of water placed on the table didn’t behave the way it should in zero gravity.

The conspiracy theorists allege that despite the glass being strapped to the furniture, the liquid should float out of it in the absence of a gravitational pull. In response to the viral claims, an expert told the Associated Press that the water’s behavior in the Tiangong space station’s video was a “basic scientific phenomenon.” The University of Chicago’s Jordan Bimm, a postdoctoral researcher and space historian, explained (via AP),

“Water molecules like to stick to glass and also to other water molecules more than they like to disperse in the air. So if there is no external force, water remains in ‘clumps’ in the weightless environment, and in this case inside the glass.”

Bimm also emphasized surface tension playing a role in the way water behaved when placed in a glass on a table despite zero gravity. He added (via AP),

“[Surface tension] also works to help maintain the static shape and presents the illusion of how water would act on the ground.”

According to the US Geological Survey, surface tension is defined as follows:

“The property of the surface of a liquid that allows it to resist an external force, due to the cohesive nature of its molecules.”

For those unaware, the viral clip has been taken from a livestream from the space station, dubbed “Tiangong Class.” In the original video, the Shenzhou-13 crew taught some science lessons to the students on Earth.

Another video from the Tiangong space station disproved the conspiracy theories about its authenticity

As mentioned, the Associated Press’s fact-check refuted the viral claims branding the Chinese space station as "fake." Apart from the expert, the original video provided proof of the Tiangong space station being real. During CGTN’s livestream, Wang Yaping demonstrated how water’s buoyancy would work on Earth in comparison to zero gravity.

The taikonaut submerged a ping pong ball in the glass of water and pointed out how it would not float at the Tiangong space station. Students on Earth tried the same but weren’t able to keep the ball immersed in water. Wang Yaping used both examples to ascertain that buoyancy is non-existent at the space station due to the absence of gravity.

Additionally, in 2023, the Associated Press also spoke to the University of Manchester’s Molly Silk, a doctoral researcher at the time. She corroborated the authenticity of Tiangong.

“It is extremely unlikely that the video was faked, as Chinese space program actors have very little reason to fake a video. The presence of the space station has been verified by international actors, including China’s biggest space competitor the US.”

She further highlighted how the Chinese Manned Space Agency has also offered other UN member states to send their astronauts to the Tiangong space station. Silk noted that China wouldn’t have offered their space station if it was fake.

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