Chinese "Space Lab" could happen sooner

Many of you probably already know, but Shenzhou 8, the craft scheduled to be launched in 2010 as part of a docking demonstration, is in fact a large module which forms the core of the space lab station, although this is not mentioned on Sinodefence (so i suggest it is updated). It seems the Chinese may build their forst space station sooner than you think. Shenzhou 9 and 10 are scheduled to dock with Shenzhou 8. The crew could leave in either one, so there would always be one spacecraft docked to the lab module. When the other docking port free, another module could be added. The Shenzhou 8 module is only 8 tonnes, enough for the CZ-2F to handle. A similar or smaller module could also be flown by a CZ-2F to dock with it, and then the station begins to grow, without the need for a next generation rocket to launch a big 20-tonne station all in one go. I suggest this is added to the site, because this is an interesting new fact. Here are my Sources:







P.S. I'll leave you to comment and debate on this, because I'm going abroad tommorow. If you want to ask me anything, post it on this thread on 11th August.

it isn't really very useful as a lab because without a service module, only short duration mission will be possible and the kind of experiment you can do will be limited. this is really just a trial run thing for docking and messing around in space (this was the pre moon race stage for USSR/US program where they tested docking, spacewalk technology and refined their capsule for longer trips).

also, the limited numbers of flight means the docking module would only be manned for a couple of weeks.

akinkhoo said:

it isn't really very useful as a lab because without a service module, only short duration mission will be possible and the kind of experiment you can do will be limited. this is really just a trial run thing for docking and messing around in space (this was the pre moon race stage for USSR/US program where they tested docking, spacewalk technology and refined their capsule for longer trips).

also, the limited numbers of flight means the docking module would only be manned for a couple of weeks.

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Its true that the Shenzhou 8 doesn't have service or habitation facilities, and it is probably not going to be most advanced of space labs, since the Chinese don't have much experience in space science. But like I said, at least one of the Shenzhou 8 ports will be vacant, so a service module could be added to that when the lab is unmanned. It would certainly cost a lot less time and resources to do that than build a totally new space station for permanent habitation, and then having to build a new class of rocket to handle the extra load.