China has reached another milestone in its space exploration programme. On 29 September, it sent into space an unmanned experimental module called “Heavenly Palace”, a forerunner of the country’s plan of creating a 60-ton orbital station by 2020. The Chinese module weighing more than 8 tons will remain in space for about two years. The major aim of the present launch is to try out the technology for docking with other spaceships, and the first attempt of such a maneuvering will take place before the end of the year. An unmanned ship is to be sent to dock with “Heavenly Palace”, and if it is successful, two manned space ships will be launched to dock with it in turns in 2012. Read More
