China launched the first module of what may ultimately become that country's first space station. The module, Tiangong-1 (Heavenly Palace-1), was launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on Thursday, September 29th. The module, the first of three, is designed to test rendezvous and orbital docking capabilities for the ultimate goal of creating a 20-ton multi-module space station, scheduled to begin construction around the year 2020. Tiangong-1 is scheduled to be visited by three Shenzhou missions within the next year, and has room for two astronauts to sleep on-board the spacecraft.
For a variety of global opinions about the launch of Tiangong-1, see:
BBC: Tiangong rocket: China media reacts to space launch
CNN: China's Space Ambition Soars
International Business Times: Developing Nations Working Toward China’s Space Success
People's Daily Online: China's space station realizes 'rendezvous, docking' of dreams, reality
The Guardian: China space station signals shift in space race
Video credit: Al-Jazeera English
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