China news

Chinas space industry to achieve leap-forward development

Monday, 29 August 2011 20:38 Written by People Daily

China will launch Tiangong 1 target spacecraft and Shenzhou VIII unmanned spacecraft in the coming five years and the two spacecrafts will undertake China's first docking mission with each other. After this, China's space industry will achieve leap-forward development from a manned space program to building a space laboratory, China's Central Television reported on Tuesday. Chinese on Monday unveiled pictures of the moon's Sinus Iridum, or Bay of Rainbows, marking the success of China's Chan ...

Read more... Add new comment

China news - China

Tiangong-1 to be launched next year

Monday, 29 August 2011 20:37 Written by People Daily

China will launch its first unmanned space module, Tiangong-1, also known as the "target spacecraft," next year, Yan Zhongwen of the China Academy of Space Technology told Guangzhou Daily on Monday. Tiangong-1, a spacecraft module equipped with two docking ports to serve as a target for a rendezvous docking operation, is expected to enter into orbit in October 2011. It will first dock with the unmanned Shenzhou 8 spacecraft and then the manned Shenzhou 9 spacecraft, according to Yan Zhongwen ...

Read more... Add new comment

China news - China

China to launch Shenzhou 9 and Shenzhou 10 spacecraft in 2012

Monday, 29 August 2011 20:37 Written by People Daily

It is reported that China will launch the Shenzhou 9 and Shenzhou 10 spacecraft in 2012, according to the website of China Manned Space Engineering. China has formally begun its manned space station program, aiming to complete construction of a "relatively large" manned space laboratory around 2020, said a spokesman for the national manned space program. China hopes to develop and launch the first part of a space laboratory before 2016, focusing on breakthroughs in living conditions for as ...

Read more... Add new comment

China news - China

China wows world with engineering

Monday, 29 August 2011 20:36 Written by People Daily

The country surprised the world with its engineering and technical feats in 2010, when it completed several monumental projects high in the sky, deep in the seas and in-between. China last year completed 15 successful space launches, including that of its second lunar probe, Chang'e-2, which will determine a site for the country's first unmanned moon landing around 2013. The Long March launch vehicles also sent five Beidou navigation satellites into orbit. The launches were part of the ...

Read more... Add new comment

China news - China

China announces nuclear fuel breakthrough

Monday, 29 August 2011 20:36 Written by People Daily

&$This Dec 26, 2008 file photo shows a huge construction site of the expansion project of the two million-kw generating units in the Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant in Haiyan, East China's Zhejiang province. (Xinhua Photo)&$&$ Chinese scientists have made a breakthrough in spent fuel reprocessing technology that could potentially solve China's uranium supply problem, Chinese television reported on Monday. The te ...

Read more... Add new comment

China news - China

Astronauts being prepped as space station nears

Monday, 29 August 2011 20:35 Written by People Daily

A research project to train astronauts and study their ability to endure space missions has been launched as the country gears up for the launching of two unmanned space modules later this year, aimed at future space dockings. The research looks into the impact of prolonged stays of astronauts in conditions of zero gravity, rapid day and night shifts, and limited living quarters, so as to guarantee their safety, health and work efficiency in space, the People's Liberation Army Daily reported ...

Read more... Add new comment

China news - China

China fired-up about manned space station

Monday, 29 August 2011 20:35 Written by People Daily

China plans to launch two manned spacecraft next year to dock with its space module, Tiangong-1, which will itself lift off later in 2011, according to a spokesman for the China Manned Space Engineering Office. The 8.5-ton Tiangong-1, or Heavenly Palace-1, is slated to blast off on top of a Long March 2F carrier rocket in the second half of this year, the spokesman said via a press release posted on the office's website late Wednesday. The space module, which is now undergoing tests, wil ...

Read more... Add new comment

China news - China

China to launch 1st Mars probe in 2013

Monday, 29 August 2011 20:34 Written by People Daily

Qi Faren, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and chief designer of Shenzhou spaceships, indicated on Jan. 16 that China is expected to launch the first Mars probe in 2013. The probe, Yinghuo-1(YH-1), was due to blast off in October 2009 with Russia's "Phobos Explorer" from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, but the launch was postponed. Qi Faren disclosed that China and Russia will launch the first Mars probe this year. By 2013, there will be a minimum distance betwee ...

Read more... Add new comment

China news - China

On-track for Chinas first space lab by 2016

Monday, 29 August 2011 20:33 Written by People Daily

China will launch its first space laboratory before 2016, a senior space technology expert said on Thursday. "With the technological program ready, the lab's research and development are going smoothly," said Qi Faren, former chief designer of Shenzhou （divine –ship） spaceships. As the second phase of China's manned space program, the lab - likely to be named Tiangong-2 - will gradually be developed into the core module or experiment module, said Qi. Qi, a member of the 11th Natio ...

Read more... Add new comment

China news - China

China solicits names for manned space station

Monday, 29 August 2011 20:07 Written by People Daily

China officially initiated soliciting names for the country’s first manned space station from Chinese people around the world on Monday. The activity will take place over several months. An official micro-blog was launched to solicit name and logo for the space station. Wang Wenbao, director of the China Manned Space Engineering Office (CMSEO), said during a news conference that China’s manned space station program should also have a distinctive logo to match its magnificent blueprin ...

Read more... Add new comment

China news - China

Chinese women could be in space by 2012

Monday, 29 August 2011 20:07 Written by People Daily

China’s female astronauts could fly into space as soon as the latter half of next year, said a senior official in charge of the manned space program on Friday. According to the program schedule, a space module Tiangong-1 and the Shenzhou VIII spacecraft will be launched in the latter half of this year in the first unmanned rendezvous and docking mission. Yang Liwei, deputy director of China Manned Space Engineering Office and also China’s first astronaut in space, said that next year C ...

Read more... Add new comment

China news - China

China sees smooth preparation for launch of unmanned module in 2nd half of this year

Monday, 29 August 2011 20:07 Written by People Daily

China is satisfied with preparatory work completed thus far for the launching of two unmanned space modules, the Tiangong-1 and Shenzhou-8, in the second half of this year, said deputy head of China's Manned Space Engineering Office Yang Liwei on Friday. The two space modules will participate in the first space docking maneuver ever conducted by Chinese astronauts, said Yang. More than 50 reporters from 33 foreign media organs visited the center on Friday to hear his remarks. The 8.5-to ...

Read more... Add new comment

China news - China

Tiangong 1 about to launch

Monday, 29 August 2011 19:52 Written by People Daily

According to China Manned Space Engineering (CMSE), the Tiangong 1 target spacecraft, which will carry out China's first space rendezvous and docking task, has been successfully gone through a series of evaluation test and was transmitted to Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on June 29 to be given a final check before launching. Since the Shenzhou 7 successfully accomplished a series of extra-vehicular activities on Sept. 9, 2008, China has proceeded to develop space rendezvous and docking rela ...

Read more... Add new comment

China news - China