News Update: Manned Chinese Spacecraft Completes Docking with Orbiting Module Tiangong 1

 

          

 

The image above is from  the screen at the Beijing Aerospace Control Center and released by China's Xinhua News Agency, Shenzhou-9 spacecraft and Tiangong-1 lab module, partly seen on left, are conjoined again Sunday, June 24, 2012. Three Chinese astronauts Sunday successfully completed a manual docking between of the spacecraft and the orbiting module, the first such attempt in China's history of space exploration.The mission, which is expected to last at least 10 days, is China's fourth manned mission. Shenzhou 9 launched June 16 from the Jiuquan center on the edge of the Gobi desert in northern China.

The crew includes 33-year-old Liu Yang, an air force pilot and China's first female astronaut. Liu is joined by mission commander and veteran astronaut Jing Haipeng, 45, and crew mate Liu Wang, 43.

China is hoping to join the United States and Russia as the only countries to send independently maintained space stations into orbit --The Tiangong 1, which was launched last year, is due to be replaced by a permanent space station around 2020. China is already one of just three nations to have launched manned spacecraft on their own. Another manned mission to the module is planned later this year. Possible future missions could include sending a man to the moon.

 

          

The Daily Galaxy via AP and Beijing Aerospace Control Center via Xinhua

Comments

[Mark D]

Congratulations to Liu Yang and her co-taikonauts. Brilliant work and great news for the future of space-sciences and exploration. Once all parties have proven themselves, we can perhaps, work toward some common goals.

[kristi276]

I think that it is good that China is building another space station, since the deactivation of the MIR space station by the Soviet's. I do hope that the Chinese will pick up the slack of getting countries that are never included in the NASA/ESA astronaut core to be able to be part of the venture into space. The Chinese should, also, try to include the Japanese in their plans for the development of the space station.

Congratulations on a successful docking.

Several small steps for a man/woman, several giant leaps for humanity

[Trantorian]

Just let us hope this isn`t the prelude to a conflict over the exploration of the solar system. Can`t you imagine future exploration missions to key spots (say, a crack in Europa`s shell, or an underground ice"cap" on Mars...) bumping into and jeopardizing one another? Even without a militarization of space that would be a grimm affair indeed... China`s and the other space agencies need to sort out their differences, and better sooner than later.

[Lee]

China has the industrial might and the political will to invest in space and is following a path which is the true mission of mankind. The trade block forming between the last remaining soverign nations are targeting investment in science and infrastructure and will not only create a platform to launch mankind into the solar system and beyond but will act as a firewall for the collapsing empire known as the IMF.