For comparison, the International Space Station’s (ISS) biggest modules were delivered on 42 assembly flights – and the ISS only measures 356ft (109m) end-to-end.

This was followed by a total of 232 spacewalks – and counting – to assemble, maintain and upgrade the orbital lab since 1998.

The Chinese spacecraft’s parts would similarly have to be launched from Earth multiple times for assembly in space.

It would be, simply put, impossible to launch something on this scale from the planet.

The ISS is estimated to have cost £109.5billion ($150billion) – a cost that was shared between 15 nations, including the member states of the European Space Agency (ESA).