China today accomplished its first space docking mission when two Chinese spacecraft were launched in space more than 343 km above the Earth’s surface as part of the country’s maiden attempt to build a space station by 2020.
The unmanned spacecraft Shenzhou-8, which was launched two days ago, docked with space lab module Tiangong-1, sent into space last month providing a big leap forward for China’s space programme.
The success of the docking procedure makes China the third country in the world, after the United States and Russia, to master the technique, moving the country one step closer to establishing its own space station.
The Chinese President, Mr Hu Jintao, who is in France for the G-20 summit, sent a congratulatory message on the success of the country’s first-ever space docking.
“Breakthroughs in and acquisition of space docking technologies are vital to the three-phase development strategy of our manned space program,” Mr Hu said in the message.
Mr Hu said he wishes all the programme participants to try all out to fulfil a complete success of the whole mission after the smooth docking.
Other leaders, including Mr Wu Bangguo, Mr Wen Jiabao, Mr Li Changchun, Mr Xi Jinping, Mr Li Keqiang, Mr He Guoqiang and Mr Zhou Yongkang, who are the Standing Committee members of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, watched the mission at the Beijing Aerospace Flight Control Centre.
China is now equipped with the basic technology and capacity required for the construction of a space station, Mr Zhou Jianping, chief designer of China’s manned space programme said.