Tiangong

Chinese crew docks with prototype lab module

The Shenzhou 9 spacecraft executed a smooth automated docking with the Tiangong 1 research module early Monday, completing China's first manned orbital linkup in a milestone for the nation's steadily progressing space program.

Following launch Saturday from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in north central China, commander Jing Heipeng, China's first space veteran, and his two rookie crewmates, Liu Wang and Liu Yang -- China's first female astronaut -- began the terminal phase of the two-day rendezvous around noon Monday Beijing time (12 a.m. EDT; GMT+8) at a distance of about 32 miles, according … Read more

China aims to put astronauts on moon

Continuing its bold space plans, China has unveiled a five-year white paper that calls for putting astronauts on the moon, which would make it the first nation to visit since the U.S. last set foot there some 40 years ago.

"China will conduct studies on the preliminary plan for a human lunar landing," the State Council white paper says, also calling for deep-space exploration of planets and asteroids.

It does not give a timeline for the moonshot, but is seen as an official declaration of China's lunar goals.

The plans come as U.S. manned spaceflight … Read more

China launches unmanned capsule for key docking test

A Chinese Long March-2F rocket successfully boosted an unmanned Shenzhou capsule into orbit today for an automated rendezvous and docking with a prototype space station module, a key milestone in China's drive to build an operational station later this decade.

The towering Long March, equipped with four liquid-fueled strap-on boosters, ignited with a flash at 5:58 p.m. EDT (GMT-4) and quickly climbed away from its pad at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in north central China.

The launch was carried live by Chinese television and nine minutes after takeoff, a camera mounted on the spacecraft showed the … Read more

China launches prototype lab module for docking tests

In a major milestone for China's space program, a modified Long March 2 rocket boosted an unmanned prototype space station module, dubbed "Heavenly Palace," into orbit today to serve as a target for critical tests of automated rendezvous and docking systems needed before construction of a Mir-class space station later in the decade.

The Long March 2F T1 rocket, equipped with four liquid-fueled strap-on boosters for extra launch power, took off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in north central China at 9:16 a.m. EDT (GMT-4; 9:16 p.m. local time), majestically climbing away … Read more