中國將在年前發射空間實驗室

全國政協委員、神舟飛船原總設計師戚發軔近日表示，中國將在2016年前研製併發射空間實驗室，突破和掌握航天員中期駐留等空間站關鍵技術，並開展一定規模的空間應用。空間實驗室是中國載人航天工程的第二步，爲最終在2020年建成中國空間站提供技術支持。

2011年下半年發射的中國首個目標飛行器“天宮一號”，將於2012年完成交會對接試驗的重要使命。交會對接是中國載人航天空間實驗室階段的一項關鍵技術指標，將由“天宮一號”以及神舟八號、九號、十號飛船共同完成。

A Chinese senior space technology expert said Thursday that China is expected to launch its first space laboratory before 2016.

"With the technological program ready, the lab's research and development are going smoothly," Qi Faren, former chief designer of Shenzhou spaceships, told Xinhua in an exclusive interview.

As the second phase of China's manned space program, the lab, likely to be named Tiangong-2, will gradually be developed into the core module or experiment module, said Qi.

China is to launch its first unmanned space module, Tiangong-1, or Heavenly Palace, in the second half of 2011, serving as a platform for spacecraft to rendezvous and dock - allowing for the building of the space station.

China will have its own space station before 2020, said Qi, a member of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, before the annual session of the country's top political advisory body, which is scheduled to open Thursday.