A file photo of Chinese astronauts aboard the orbiting Tiangong-1 space station. The Tiangong-1 space module, which crashed Monday, was intended to serve as a stepping stone to a manned station, but its problems highlight the difficulties of exploring outer space. Following in the footsteps of the United States and Russia, China is striving to open a space station circling our planet. The lab was also used for medical experiments and, most importantly, tests intended to prepare for the building of a space station. The ambitions start with a space station of its own, slated to begin assembling pieces in space in 2020 with manned use to start around 2022—China was deliberately left out of the International Space Station effort.

Source: Mint April 02, 2018 06:22 UTC