China takes great leap forward into space

Last Updated: Fri, 30 Sep 2011 07:08:00 +1000

China's ambitious space program has taken a huge step forward with the successful launch of the first stage of its experimental space station.

A Long March 2F rocket carrying the Tiangong [Heavenly Palace] 1 module blasted off on schedule shortly after 9:15pm (local time) from the Gobi desert in China's north-west ahead of China's National Day on October 1.

The unmanned 8.5-tonne module will test various space operations as a preliminary step towards building a space station by 2020.

Later this year an unmanned rocket will attempt to dock with Heavenly Palace 1.

In 2012 a manned space craft will attempt to replicate the docking procedure.

If all goes well Chinese astronauts will be living in space for months at a time within the next nine years.

Chinese premier Wen Jiabao was at the launch centre for the take-off, while president Hu Jintao watched from a space flight control centre in Beijing, the state Xinhua news agency said.

China sees its ambitious space program as a symbol of its global stature and state newspapers devoted several pages to the launch, hailing it as a "milestone" for the country.

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