China denies 'space station in 2020' stories
Will get one, won't say when
The Chinese government has moved to damp speculation that it will establish a manned space station by 2020.
The BBC and AFP report this morning that rocket designer Long Lehao (of the People's Republic space programme) told the China Daily of plans to orbit a "a small-scale 20-tonne workshop" by 2020. This was headlined "China plans space station in 2020".
China has come from nowhere in recent years to join the top three space nations. It has now put a man in space, shot down a satellite, and placed a probe in orbit round the Moon. A manned space station would be another coveted badge of technical achievement; and the necessary heavy-lift rocket tech could have pleasing effects on the small, antiquated Chinese ICBM force too.
However, it now appears that everyone may have got a little carried away. Xinhua reports that the China National Space Administration (CNSA) denies any timetable for a space station.
"China will focus on manned space flight and lunar exploration in the near future," CNSA spokesman Li Guoping told reporters. "No plans issued by the government so far have said we are going to develop a space station."
The Xinhua report states that the PRC is embarking on its "second stage" of spaceflight, to include an orbiting "space laboratory attended to by humans for short periods". This will be used to gain expertise in spacewalks, docking manoeuvres, etc. Presumably, this is what Long Lehao actually meant.
There will be a third stage featuring "a permanent space station and a space engineering system," but the CNSA very firmly did not say when. ®
COMMENTS
@where's the hate
Hrm, I can only assume you are a yank, since every other country rasies it's kids to have the common sense to realise that if you go around bullying, lying and cheating then people will start to dislike you.
So far the chinese have done very little to the rest of the world, other than act as a source of negative inflation and a shining example to opressive regimes everywhere (I notice that george's thought police have been taking notes)
George (and his cronies) on the other hand have done everything they possibly can to rape and pillage the world in the process of lining their pockets (coca cola anyone? Maccie D's? Augusto Pinochet?) ... and you wonder why we hate your guts.
Sheesh, you really are as stupid as you look!
@where's the hate?
very funny, considering all the rocket tech George I sold the commies.
Sounds like Salyut
And depends on the success of the latest Chinese booster design.
Maybe Joss Whedon was right. And Tom Lehrer.
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