Tiangong-2 to hit orbit by 2016, to dock with spaceships  

天宮二號將于2016年發射 與神舟載人飛船實施對接

記者26日從中國載人航天工程辦公室獲悉，執行中國空間交會對接任務的天宮一號目標飛行器在軌運營三年取得豐碩成果，目前運行狀態良好，各類裝載設備功能正常，具備繼續在軌工作條件。天宮二號空間實驗室將于2016年發射。[查看全文]

Beijing (CNS) -- Tiangong-2, China's second space lab, is scheduled for launch by 2016, the country's manned space engineering office revealed on Friday.

Two spacecraft, the manned Shenzhou-11 and cargo ship Tianzhou-1, will subsequently dock with the lab.

Wang Zhaoyang, director of the manned space engineering office, said development and production of Tiangong-2, Tianzhou-1, Shenzhou-11 and the Long March 2F carrier has entered a key stage.

A new launch center in Hainan province is almost complete, he added.

China launched its first space lab, Tiangong-1 in September 2011. It has completed six dockings with spacecraft to date. Besides, in June 2013, Shenzhou-10 also docked with it, with three astronauts delivering a physics lesson onboard the space lab.

Tiangong-1, designed to last two years in orbit, is still in good shape. Scientists are keeping a close eye on the craft and trying their best to prolong its in-orbit lifespan.