The Shenzhou 8 craft re-docked with the Tiangong 1 module that will form part of a future space lab, and the two were jointly orbiting Earth, Xinhua News Agency reported, citing the mission’s control center.
About half an hour before the Monday evening docking, Shenzhou 8 had successfully disengaged from the module after a 12-day flight together, Xinhua said.
Shenzhou 8 was launched Nov. 1 and first docked with the already orbiting Tiangong 1 on Nov. 3. China’s first space docking took place in an orbit 213 miles (343 kilometers) above Earth, Xinhua said. The craft is due to return to Earth on Thursday.
The docking mechanism, composed of 10,000 parts, and the more than 600 instruments aboard Shenzhou 8, were all developed and made in China, spokeswoman for China’s manned space program Wu Ping was quoted as saying.
China will conduct two more space docking missions next year, and plans to establish its own space lab around 2016 and a manned space station around 2020, Wu said.
At about 60 tons when completed, the Chinese station will be considerably smaller than the 16-nation International Space Station, which is expected to continue operating through 2028.
China launched its own space station program after being rebuffed in its attempts to join the International Space Station, largely on objections from the United States. The US is wary of the Chinese program’s military links and the sharing of technology with its chief economic and political rival.
