遥2016年较少将进行20项太空任务China has announced that it will carry out at least 20 space missions this
year.
遥宣布今年将进行至少20项太空任务。
The missions will cover a variety of projects including manned spacecraft
Shenzhou-11, China's satellite navigation system as well as satellites for
civilian and commercial use.
The Tiangong-2 space lab will also be launched, with the Shenzhou-11
spaceship set to dock with it.
Lei Fanpei, director of China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation,
said that the successful launch of Tiangong-2 will mark a new era of progress
for China's efforts in space.
"The mission will mainly focus on the docking technology. Compared to
Tiangong-1 space lab module, Tiangong-2 space lab has more advantages on data
transmission, as well as better conditions for doing experiments. "
Earlier in 2012, 3 Chinese astronauts successfully completed a manual docking
between the Shenzhou-9 spacecraft and the orbiting Tiangong-1 lab module.
China is also set to send two new models of carrier rockets in the Long March
series on their maiden space trips.