China launches space mission

China launches space mission

With a thunderous roar, China announces its presence as a key player in the space race.br br This Shenzhou 9 rocket carrying three astronauts blasted off Saturday afternoon, bound for an experimental Chinese space station.br br If all goes to plan, the ship will dock at the station - a complicated maneauver that would be a landmark achievement for China's nascent space program.br br And these are the people who will make it happen.br br The ship's crew of three, including China's first female astonaut, were given a rousing sendoff a few hours before launch.br br The mission is part of a larger, more ambitious effort, say Chinese officials.br br (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) CHIEF DESIGNER OF CHINA'S MANNED SPACE ENGINEERING PROJECT, ZHOU JIANPING SAYING:br br "Our country's current planned timetable is to build a manned space station by around 2020. I believe that we can achieve this goal, because we already have the basic technological capability."br br Beijing is still far behind the established space superpowers, the United States and Russia.br br But Saturday's launch is an indication the country is fast catching up, say observers.


User: Reuters

Views: 79

Uploaded: 2012-06-16

Duration: 01:24

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