CHINA IN SPACE

 

 

 

 

Chinese spaceship blasts off from Gobi Desert

By Katie Hunt and Zhang Dayu, CNN

 

"China has stepped up the pace of its space program since first sending astronaut Yang Liwei into orbit in 2003. In 2012, it conducted 18 space launches, according to the Pentagon.

Hong Kong (CNN) -- A Chinese spaceship blasted off Tuesday from a launch center in the Gobi Desert, carrying three astronauts on what is expected to be the Asian giant's longest crewed mission yet.

Propelled by a Long March-2F rocket, the Shenzhou 10 craft is scheduled to dock with the Tiangong-1 space module where the crew will transfer supplies to the space lab, which has been in orbit since September 2011.

Tuesday's launch from the the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center marks the start of China's fifth crewed space mission.

China unveils new space mission

Footage broadcast by state broadcaster CCTV showed the craft lift off from the Gobi's flat expanse and arrow into the empty blue sky. Officials at the launch center looked on as it gained altitude, gradually shedding stages of the rocket.

During its 15 days in orbit, the crew will master the rendezvous and docking capabilities that are essential for the operation of a manned space platform.

"The functionality, performance, and coordination of all systems will be evaluated during this mission," Wu Ping, a spokesperson for China's Manned Space Program, told a news conference on Monday ahead of the launch.

She added that another main objective of the mission was to test technologies related to the construction of a space station as China seeks to establish a long-term human presence in space..."