Countdown begins for China's space station in 2020

Beijing, Apr 26: The China Manned Space Engineering Office has unveiled plans to build a 60-ton space station, made up of three capsules, by the year 2020.

Authorities in charge of the manned space program also revealed it would develop a cargo spaceship, with a diameter of 3.35 meters and a launch weight less than 13 tons, to transport supplies and lab facilities to the space station, The China Daily reports.

According to documents provided by the office, the space station, weighing about 60 tons, is composed of a core module and two others where experiments will be conducted.

The 18.1-meter-long core module, with a maximum diameter of 4.2 meters and a launch weight of 20 to 22 tons, will be launched first.

The authorities have also urged public to submit suggestions for names and symbols for the space station.

"We feel that the public should be involved in the names and symbols as this major project will enhance national prestige, and strengthen the national sense of cohesion and pride," said Wang Wenbao, director of the office.

China is now in the second phase of its manned space program.

According to the schedule, a space module Tiangong-1 and the Shenzhou VIII spacecraft will be launched in the latter half of this year. Shenzhou IX and Shenzhou X will be launched next year to dock with Tiangong-1.

The manned space program will lay the foundation for possible missions in future, such as sending men to the moon, according to the office''s documents.

Source: New Kerala.
Link: http://www.newkerala.com/news/world/fullnews-196915.html.