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China Launches Space Station Laboratory Module

Posted by timothy on from the all-space-stations-must-charge-with-micro-usb dept.

wisebabo writes with news from CNN that "China's first space laboratory module launched Thursday, according to state-run media, an important milestone in China's plan to build a space station." The module, known as Tiangong-1, features sleeping areas and exercise equipment. Writes wisebabo: "In another universe (Arthur C. Clarke's 2011), it would be on its way to Europa by now. Anyone know what orbital plane/altitude it's at? Can it be reached by NASA/Soyuz? Are the docking ports compatible? How about the air pressure/breathing mix?"

7 of 178 comments (clear)

  1. Good or bad neighbors with the ISS? by acidradio · · Score: 4, Funny

    Will they make sneering faces at each other? Rude hand gestures? Will they "haze" the other space station? Teepee their solar collectors in the night? Will the ISS astronauts pop in from time to time to borrow a cup of sugar? Host a friendly neighborhood barbecue?

    1. Re:Good or bad neighbors with the ISS? by Vectormatic · · Score: 4, Funny

      Have you learned nothing from how chinese immigrants behave in other countries? Now the guys up in the ISS finally can have cheap take-out and dry-cleaning!

      --
      People, what a bunch of bastards
  2. Orbit by Skylax · · Score: 5, Interesting

    From my chinese coworkers I got the information that the module is currently in a 350km by 200km orbit at around 45 inclination.The finished station will consist of 3 modules at 20t each and has a designed lifetime of 2 years. It is basically used for testing purposes (docking procedures etc.) and will be manned by a 2-3 man crew with 20 day rotation.

    1. Re:Orbit by ZankerH · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Actually, you've got two different programs mixed up. The Tiangong-1 (the one launched today) will not form a part of the larger space station, and the 2 years lifetime only refers to this experimental module. Also, the Tiangong-1 will first be visited by the unmanned Shenzhou 8 spacecraft (to launch this november), followed by two manned Shenzhou expeditions in 2012. They're only planning to built the 60 ton space station by 2020.

  3. Re:Good for them by denis-The-menace · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The states had the money, too.
    But they just spent it on more important things:
    -Liberating oil in Irak.
    -Molesting the terrorists out of our shorts.
    -Covering rich people for bad bets in the stock market

    --
    Obama's legacy: (N)othing (S)ecure (A)nywhere and (T)error (S)imulation (A)dministration
  4. Can it be reached by NASA? by subreality · · Score: 5, Funny

    Can it be reached by NASA

    Unfortunately, no. NASA doesn't currently have a man-rated vehicle that can exceed about 60,000 feet.

    The DOD can probably deliver a decent size payload to it, but their craft aren't exactly designed to dock in a diplomatic way.

  5. Re:Good for them by Bardwick · · Score: 3, Insightful

    It's actually free. Just using interest on all the money that they've loaned out.. So hey, why not? heh.