China sent its first astronaut into space in 2003, the first stage in a "three-step" strategy to develop its manned engineering project. The launch of the Tiangong-1 lab module is the second step. If successful, it will be followed by the last phase: to build a permanent space lab that will allow astronauts to conduct long-term space experiments.
According to Xinhua, Beijing hopes to build a space station by around 2020.
There will be two more docking tests with Tiangong-1 in 2012, with at least one carrying astronauts, according to officials.
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