China will launch space laboratory before 2016

Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, March 3rd, China will develop and launch a space laboratory before 2016 to break through and master key technologies such as the astronauts' mid-term resident and other space stations, and carry out a certain amount of space applications. The National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and former chief designer of Shenzhou Spaceship Qi Fabiao said on the 3rd when they were interviewed by Xinhua News Agency.

China’s first target aircraft, Tiangong-1, launched in the second half of 2011 will complete the important mission of rendezvous and docking trials in 2012. Rendezvous and docking is a key technical indicator for the stage of China’s manned space laboratory. It will be jointly completed by the “Tiangong-1” and the Shenzhou 8, 9 and 10 spacecraft. In addition, Tiangong I also undertakes a small amount of other scientific research work.

Qi Fabiao said that “Temple One” is a special case of the space laboratory, mainly to complete the task of rendezvous and docking, and the space laboratory launched in the future will be a complete space laboratory where scientists and astronauts will carry out various activities. Work and trials.

At present, the laboratory's technical program has been improved and the development work is proceeding smoothly. It will solve the problem of space applications with a certain scale and short-term care. In the future, with the increase in space laboratory volume and reliability, it will gradually develop into the core or experimental cabin of the space station, increase the types and types of space experiments, and lay the foundation for the completion of the space station.

Qi Fabiao disclosed that there will be various experiments involving biology, materials, astronomy, etc. conducted at this space laboratory, and it must include projects that cooperate with foreign countries. It is believed that after the completion of the China Space Station in 2020, more countries and China will collaborate on scientific experimental projects. It is not ruled that there will be foreign scientists or astronauts and scientists from Hong Kong and Macao regions to do experiments.

The space laboratory is the second step of China’s manned space project. It will be completed by 2016 and will provide technical support for the eventual completion of the Chinese space station. The first step, namely the stage of manned spacecraft, has been realized by the Shenzhou 5 and Shenzhou 6 spacecrafts.

Qi Fayu is an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and an academician of the International Academy of Aeronautics and Astronautics. He was the chief designer of manned spacecraft systems for China’s manned space project.