China's First Module of Planned Space Station to Undergo Final Testing before Launch

Jul 01, 2011     Email"> PrintText Size

China's first module of a planned space station has been transported to a launch center in western Gansu Province where it will undergo final tests before its scheduled launch later this year.

Designed to serve as a platform for China's future spacecraft to rendezvous and dock with in outer space, Tiangong-1 will be carried into space on a Long March II-F carrier rocket, according to a spokesman for China's manned space engineering.

After passing examinations upon leaving the factory, the unmanned space vehicle was taken to Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Gansu on Wednesday, said the spokesman.

China plans to launch Tiangong-1 and Shenzhou-8 spacecraft in the latter half of this year, and they will perform the nation's first space docking.

(Source: Xinhua)