China might be the only country to boast an International Space Station and entire world will rely on its service for space research, Chinese space official has said.
Lei Fanpei, chairman of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) on Friday told , “China will be the only space station in service as the International Space Station currently in service would retire by 2024.”
China recently successfully launched a second experimental space lab. Two astronauts were expected to join the lab later this month for month long stay and experiments.
The main lab was expected to be ready by 2022.
China plans to launch the experimental core module of its space station around 2018 with a Long March-5 heavy load carrier rocket, and the 20 tonne combination space station will be sent into orbit around 2022, Lei was quoted as saying by state-run Xinhua news agency.
China's space station will include a core module and two lab modules, with ports that will allow multiple spacecraft to dock, Lei said.
After that, a manned spacecraft and cargo spacecraft will travel between the space station and the Earth to provide supplies.
Taikonauts, a Chinese astronaut, can stay at the space station for over one year. The space station has a designed life of 10 years in orbit 400 km above the earth surface.
(With agency input)
