China to Do More Experiments in Space

Chang'e-1 in Space
Chang'e-1 in Space (photo: China National Space Administration - 国家航天局)
By M. GraceSeptember 28th, 2018

According to the new briefing on China's space projects on Wednesday, September 26, the country is planning to carry out large-scale scientific experiments on space especially if China's space station will be completed.

China's manned space station is expected to be completed in 2022 and will be in space for more than 10 years.

"After the completion of the space station, space experiments and applications will become the main focus of the project," said Lin Xiqiang, deputy director of the China Manned Space Engineering Office, at the briefing.

"The space station can support space applications in and out of the cabin, and the payload can be adjusted in orbit," said Lin. "I believe the large-scale experiments will bring more important achievements with international influence and application value."

Lyu Congmin, deputy chief designer of the space station's application system said that the said space station will be used as a platform to conduct more space science experiments and applications.

"We have planned more than 13 laboratories and experimental platforms in the space station. A large optical telescope will be sent into the same orbit to fly with the station," Lyu said. "We will conduct more than 30 research projects in eight areas, including space astronomy, space life science, and biotechnology, microgravity fundamental physics and space materials."

Moreover, China is also reportedly planning space mission in search of moon water and also test soils samples from the moon. China will also be launching four missions to the moon by 2030. Officials are also thinking of introducing commercial spaceflight.

"In the coming years, we will also introduce guidelines to promote the development of commercial space in light of the current situation and future needs of modern commercial spaceflight," Li Guoping, the director of the Department of System Engineering at the CNSA, said.

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