China sets up management body for orbiting space lab

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　　The committee will deal with operations planning, technical appraisal² and flight control of the target orbiter after the unmanned Shenzhou-8 spacecraft returns to earth after its mission, the official website of China's manned space program said.

　　The Tiangong-1 space lab module was launched on Sept. 29 and docked with Shenzhou-8 precisely³ on Nov. 3, China's first ever space docking attempt. The second docking between Tiangong-1 and Shenzhou-8 is scheduled for Nov. 14.

　　The manned space program said earlier that the same target orbiter Tiangong-1 will accommodate another two docking missions performed by two other Shenzhou spaceships, at least one of which will be manned.

　　The 8.5-tonne Tiangong-1 is the first space lab module that China has built, and the committee will also be the first in taking care of a long-running space asset.

　　The operation committee for Tiangong-1 heralds⁴ China's manned space program entering a new phase for lengthy⁵ flight missions, Niu Hongguang, director of the operation committee, said on the website www.cmse.gov.cn.

　　The orbiting module management will include taking care of the space lab, making preparations for any further docking tests and gathering⁶ experience for building a future space station, Niu said.

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