Countdown begins for space station program
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China Daily, April 26, 2011
Authorities in charge of the manned space program unveiled plans on Monday to build a 60-ton space station, made up of three capsules, and develop a cargo spaceship to transport supplies.
The China Manned Space Engineering Office said at a news conference that it also wants the public to get involved by suggesting names for the space station, due to complete around 2020.
According to documents provided by the office, the space station, weighing about 60 tons, is composed of a core module and two others where experiments will be conducted.
A cargo spaceship to transport supplies will also be developed.
The 18.1-meter-long core module, with a maximum diameter of 4.2 meters and a launch weight of 20 to 22 tons, will be launched first.
The two experiment modules will then blast off to dock with the core module. Each laboratory module is 14.4 meters long, with the same maximum diameter and launch weight of the core module.
