Manned space programs to strengthen Chinas R&D capabilities

The next stage in China's manned space program is slated for as early as June, when three astronauts, including a woman probably, will orbit aboard the Shenzhou IX spacecraft to rendezvous with the prototype space station module Tiangong-1.

The three astronauts will blast off on a Long March-2F launch vehicle sometime between June and August and will manually dock with the space lab module launched last year.

The launch will be China's fourth manned spaceflight, after three successful missions between 2003 and 2008 that put six astronauts in space.

Interest in the Chinese space program has increased after the United States scaled back its spending on such missions, and Russia suffered some launch setbacks. At the same time, there were many who were worried about the rapid advancements made by China in space technologies.

Zhang Jianqi, the former deputy commander-in-chief of China's manned space program, however, reiterates that the missions are peaceful and not a threat to other nations.

"Every time China announces a (space) mission, other nations tend to associate it with several other things. There is no need to worry or overreact, as China is still far behind in the space sector," he says.

Concerns were also expressed that China's space moves are akin to the space race of the 1970s between the former Soviet Union and the US. There were also fears that the Chinese missions would create more space debris and pose risks to the International Space Station.

"But China is responsible for only 7 to 8 percent of space debris. Most of the space junk was produced by the US and Russia (the former Soviet Union) " Zhang says.

"The increase of space debris in low-Earth orbit is a big threat to China's manned spaceflights as much as it is to others. China has started to monitor the space debris and hopes that effective steps are taken by everyone to reduce the debris as much as possible."

China's manned spaceflight program aims to build a 60-ton space station around 2020.

A core module will be launched first, and then experimental modules will be launched to dock with the core module to build the space station. It will be followed by the launch of cargo spacecraft, which will deliver food and fuel to the space station, Zhang says.

To achieve its space goal, China has formulated a three-step plan.

The first has been successfully completed, after four unmanned spacecraft and two manned spacecraft were launched between 1999 and 2005 to transport men between Earth and space.

The second step aims to master the key technologies used for assembling a space station. Shenzhou VIII with three men on board has achieved the country's first extravehicular activity in 2008. With that ability, astronauts can work outside a space station.

Last year, unmanned space lab module Tiangong-1 was launched in September, while the unmanned Shenzhou VIII spacecraft blasted off in November to dock with Tiangong-1. The rendezvous and docking technology is necessary for space station assembly.

This year, Shenzhou IX will attempt a manual docking with Tiangong-1.

According to Zhang, the first manned docking mission will fully verify China's docking technologies, and also evaluate the performance of spacecraft, rocket carrier and the space lab module.

Experts say that if China succeeds in building a space station, it will become the third country to master such technology.

At present, only two countries - Russia (and the former Soviet Union) and the US - have the ability to build and operate a space station independently, though 16 countries are taking part in the International Space Station (ISS).

Space officials have said on many occasions that China welcomes international cooperation in space technologies.

"China's point of view is very clear. Our efforts in developing space technologies are for peaceful purposes," says Wu Ping, the space program's spokeswoman .

China will also benefit from such programs, as it would boost science and technology development and foster talent, he says.

Contact the writer at xindingding@chinadaily.com.cn