The capsule will be propelled by a Long March 2F rocket similar to the one which put the experimental space lab Tiangong-2 into orbit last night without a hitch.
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With yesterday’s successful launch of the Tiangong-2 space laboratory, China has moved closer to its ultimate goal of building and operating its own space station.
Tiangong 2, meaning Heavenly Palace, is a key part of the country’s plan to have a permanently staffed space station by the early 2020s. With the Tiangong-2 space laboratory, China is making leaps towards space research and exploration. NASA is watching the Tiangong-2, as well as China’s space program in general.
The Heat: Tiangong-2 and China/’s space exploration PT 1o China has launched a space lab, Tiangong-2, for astronauts – signaling a new era in its race to explore outer space.
Sometime in or after mid-October, the manned Shenzhou 11 spacecraft will launch and dock with the space lab, and the two astronauts will spend around a month conducting 14 kinds of experiments, including studies in the material sciences and life sciences.
Beijing sees its military-run space programme as symbolising the country´s progress and a marker of its rising global stature.
China has been working to develop its space programme for military, commercial and scientific purposes, but is still playing catch-up to established space powers the United States and Russian Federation.
“Once the lab mission comes to an end, China will start building our own space station”, Zhou was quoted as saying.
Also analysts say that the heavy rocket being used to lift large payload like the space lab also demonstrates China’s growing prowess in missile and rocket technology.
China eyes year-long stays for space station astronauts was posted in World of TheNews International – https://www.thenews.com.pk on September 17, 2016 and was last updated on September 17, 2016. It is expected to fall back to Earth in the second half of 2017.
The smooth launch imparts a high-tech sheen to week-long celebrations of China’s National Day, starting on October 1, as well as this week’s shorter Mid-Autumn Festival holiday that coincides with the full moon. She added, “Well, except we do”, referring to Russia’s role in the International Space Station program. It hopes to have a crewed outpost by 2022.
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The nation’s first lunar rover was launched in late 2013, and while it was beset by mechanical troubles, it far outlived its expected lifespan, finally shutting down only last month. Its Jade Rabbit rover and the Chang’e 3 probe that carried it there were the first “soft landing” on the moon since 1976.
