 "It will probably overtake the U.S. in a number of years, maybe a few decades."
... ... ... ...
A simulated depiction of a module docking with Tiangong I to form a space laboratory. [Photo: www.cmse.gov.cn]
China disclosed its space missions for 2011 on Wednesday, featuring the launch of an unmanned space module and the Shenzhou-8 spacecraft scheduled for the second half of this year.
The Tiangong-1 space module, or Heavenly Palace 1, is expected to perform China's first space docking with the Shenzhou-8, according to Qi Faren, a space technology expert.
If the first space docking goes well, the Shenzhou-8 will probably be carrying astronauts for manned space docking procedures, a move that has been widely recognized as one of the key technologies necessary to build a space station.
Tim O'Mahony, Communications Manager at Kexue Communications, told CRI that the space docking will lay the ground for further space research for China.
"This should be the new version of space station", O'Mahony said. "They will use the space station mainly to do research on different things that will help us on earth, but also look at the effects of radiation and long-term space exposure. So they can plan a mission to Mars."
The space docking marks a great improvement of China's manned-space technology, and also an important step of the country's long-range space program.
In 2003, China became the third country to independently launch an astronaut. The country took its first space walk in 2008. Following the planned launch of its first Mars probe in 2013, China aims to build its own manned space station around 2020, and then to send astronauts to the moon in 2025.
Meanwhile, the nation has further stepped up international cooperation for manned space programs.
China's Wang Yue has participated in the simulated Mars mission in Moscow. Wang, the only Chinese in the six-man crew, will spend 520 days in a mockup spacecraft to test one of the unknowns of deep space travel.
Compared with space powerhouses like the United States and Russia, O'Mahony said he is looking forward to a bright future for China's space program.
"It will probably overtake the US in a number of years, maybe a few decades," said O'Mahony. "They are one of the few countries that are increasing their investment in a space program. I could see them being one of the first countries to travel to Mars, and to a lunar base. They're also looking at mining on the moon. The US government has just recently canned a lot of their programs. So the Chinese space program looks promising.
Based on Beijing Hour's call-in with Tim O'Mahony, Communications Manager at Kexue Communications.
|
