On Thursday, September 29th, 2011 China launched a space laboratory. This space lab is an important milestone in China's plan to build a space station. President Hu Jintao of China was there to watch the launch of Tiangong-1 with other communist party officials. The space lab was on a carrier rocket, called the Long March 2F T1. The space lab is 8.5 tons in weight. The space lab is part of an experiment to test docking capabilities in space. This test is essential for the operation of the manned space platform.
http://www.cnn.com/2011/09/29/world/china-space-launch/index.html?hpt=wo_c2
The module is to be in an orbit approximately 217 miles from the Earths surface. It will survey the farmlands of china with special space cameras. They will also try to use it to attempt to grow crystals in zero gravity. China then wants to launch an unmanned Shenzhou 8 spacecraft to practice docking maneuvers.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/29/china-space-station_n_986953.html
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