3 Part of broader plan for a permanent manned space station in 2022. China launched its longest manned space mission on Monday, sending two astronauts into orbit to spend a month aboard an space laboratory that is part of a broader plan to have a permanent manned space station in service around 2022. SPACE PROGRAM FOR PEACEFUL PURPOSESShenzhou 11 is the third space voyage for Jing, who will command the mission and celebrate his 50th birthday in orbit. PERMANENT MANNED SPACE STATION IN 2022The rover and the Chang'e 3 probe that carried it there were the first "soft landing" on the moon since 1976. China will launch a "core module" for its first space station some time around 2018, a senior official said in April, part of a plan for a permanent manned space station in service around 2022.

Source: India Today October 17, 2016 01:18 UTC