[FPSPACE] China's first space laboratory to launch this year or next

[LARRY KLAES]

China's Mystery Spacelab








by Morris Jones


Sydney, Australia (SPX) Jan 20, 2010


We could be less than a year away from the launch of Tiangong-1, China's first space laboratory. We've been expecting this launch for years, but relatively little is still known about this mission. 

 
We have grown used to seeing computer-generated artwork of this small, stubby laboratory module, not much larger than the Shenzhou crew-carrying spacecraft that will dock with it. China Central Television has also broadcast short video clips showing the module undergoing assembly, and periodically, a short news report on the mission pops up in the Chinese media. 
 
Beyond this, not much is really known about Tiangong. We don't even know if the launch will take place this year or in 2011. The Chinese themselves probably don't know for sure at this stage. 
 

Tiangong doesn't have to meet any launch windows for reaching planets, so the Chinese can afford to take their time with the launch. As with any new spacecraft, there's probably a lot of debugging to perform, then more testing. It would not be surprising if the laboratory didn't take off before the end of 2010.

 

Full article here:

 

http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/China_Mystery_Spacelab_999.html

 

http://www.universetoday.com/2010/01/20/china-to-launch-space-station-in-2010-or-2011/

 

 
 		 	   		  
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