![[ China in Space ]](images/headc.gif)
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Space Station
Artist impression of Chinese space station (SinoDefence.com)
One of the goals of Project 921 is to orbit a Chinese space station. Phase 1 of the program was putting a man into space and returning him safely. This phase culminated in the launches of Shenzhou 5 and Shenzhou 6. Phase 2 of Project 921 calls for a temporary space station. The launch of Shenzhou 7 will mark the beginning of this phase, expected to culminate in 2010. Phase 3 has the goal of a larger, more permanent station with completion in the 2020 to 2025 time frame.
In 2007, the plan was for Shenzhou 8 and Shenzhou 9 to be configured as a laboratory, with an additional launch of Shenzhou 10 a few months later.