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Tiangong-1, China's First Space Lab, Launched From Jiuquan Spaceport

Tiangong1

First Posted: 29/09/11 16:20 Updated: 29/09/11 16:20

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China has launched its first space lab as part of its preparations for the construction of a fully-fledged manned space station.

The unmanned Tiangong-1 craft took off from the Jiuquan spaceport in the Gobi Desert at 13:16 GMT on Thursday.

The 10.5m-long laboratory is designed to test orbital docking, a skill vital for the success of any future space station. China plans to build a 60-tonne orbital platform by 2020.

The lab will orbit the Earth for about one month before conducting docking tests with the unmanned Shenzhou-8 spacecraft.

If the first test is a success the Chinese will conduct two further tests with manned spacecraft, Shenzhou-9 and Shenzhou-10, over the next two years. The lab has room for two to three astronauts to live and work.

Tiangong means "heavenly palace" in Chinese.

China was the third country after Russia and the United States to develop the technology to successfully send and return astronauts to space.

The China National Space Administration sent its first astronaut, Yang Liwei, in to orbit in 2003. The construction of a space station would further cement China's position as a serious player in space exploration.

The liftoff comes as the United States appears to have scaled back its ambitions. Nasa retired its 30-year old space shuttle programme over the summer and is now reliant on Russia to send supplies and crew to the International Space Station (ISS)

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China has launched its first space lab as part of its preparations for the construction of a fully-fledged manned space station. The unmanned Tiangong-1 craft took off from the Jiuquan spaceport in...
China has launched its first space lab as part of its preparations for the construction of a fully-fledged manned space station. The unmanned Tiangong-1 craft took off from the Jiuquan spaceport in...
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navy6amf
58 Fans
07:53 on 01/10/2011
Two Chinese astronauts recently were at a seminar with astronauts from many other countries. The American and Russian spacemen were bragging they had been to the moon. The British rocket men were talking about their future plans for Mars. Even the Israeli Astronauts were talking about a mission to Jupiter. Well, the 2 Chinese figured they had to get in on the conversation being the newbies who had not been anywhere yet. So one of the Chinese said in a loud voice, we are going to the Sun, stunned the Israeli said you can't go to the sun you will burn up. Again, the Chinese Cosmo said look, we are going to the sun and again the Israeli said you can't, your gonna burn up and with that walked away. Just then the one China man looked at the other and said just like those Israeli's, they think they are so smart. Then turned to all the other countries representatives and said. We are not going during the day time, we are going at night.
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Chiefy17242011
Cyber-Nat, Cyber-Democrat
440 Fans
21:48 on 30/09/2011
Lets give the Chinese their due. They are only the third country to launch their own cosmonauts. But they have done so by basically updating proven Soviet Designs.

China wanted to participate in the International Space Station Project. They were blocked by the Americans on the grounds that the technology could have military applications. So now the Chinese develop their own indigenous technologies, which, not only in space but aerospace and military, on the foundation of the crushed bones of the Soviet Giant.

They have the money and the National Will that says that Space is Important. Ask any Chinese about it and they explode with Pride.

Who knows, maybe the prospect of having a Chinese Lunar Base staring down at them will bring the US out of the darkness ?.

Those of us who believe that Manned Space Flight is the next step of our civilisation should congratulate China on this development.

But lets not forget that China is a one-party state, a dictatorship as brutal in many ways as the dictatorships condemned in Iraq, Libya, Syria, Egypt and so on. Invaders and Oppressors of Tibet and the Tibetan Culture. Remember Tiananmen Square when you pick up your cheap electronic goods with Made In China stamped on the back. Its not that long ago.

So two cheers today for China for their scientific and technological advance.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Sunil Weliwitigoda
211 Fans
08:37 on 30/09/2011
Congratulations China and Good for you and the Chinese People, as you step up your nation's race into the Space Territory. Hope that your findings, will help evolution of new technology for the benefit and welfare of society and for the growth of knowledge for our future generations. China has now come of age and society sees a greater role for China on the world stage. This is nothing new for China, which used to be called the Centre of the Earth and is now coming back into it's recognised place in world affairs and world history. Power and influence is now returning from the Atlantic and the Pacific area back to Asia and we see the predominant role being already played by China. We wish China and the great Chinese people all the very best.
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European1919
I am the PigmⒶn
546 Fans
06:22 on 30/09/2011
Well done. Hope it all goes well for them. Space exploration is always exciting - no matter who does it.
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gagaa
one for all for one
147 Fans
03:18 on 30/09/2011
this cant be true
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zitlight73
565 Fans
03:05 on 30/09/2011
Maybe we can get them to save the Hubble Space Telescope. That's just too great of an object to let fall into a fiery death.
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Patricia1111
654 Fans
02:08 on 30/09/2011
I hope they will focus with their space lab on how to destroy an asteroid coming towards the Earth. Since the Earth has had major hits in its history, why is no one is working on preventing the next collision. Scientists say it will happen again and don't forget, the dinosaurs were annihilated the last time. Perhaps the Chinese will be ones to save the Earth.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Jonatan Cruz
"socialism is not what it used to be ... XD "
7 Fans
16:13 on 29/09/2011
I said take the austerity cuts but also launch a space program to create jobs, Europe should do this, instead of giving money to the banks why not create some jobs. And for those who think space exploration is useless remember than sooner than later we will be fighting for the resources of the earth, so wouldn't it be nice to have some asteroid mining capacitys or starting terraforming Mars already? Remember reality trumps fiction, and all those scifi books and movies are going to be soon obsolete. Hey they can even finance a Mars expedition by doing it Big brother style televised with sponsors.
Just my 50 cents.
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