China plans to launch 2nd space lab around 2015

BEIJING - China will continue to carry out development and construction of space lab and plans to launch Tiangong-2 space lab around 2015, an aerospace official said Wednesday.

This is in line with China's overall outline and plan for the country's manned space program, Wang Zhaoyao, director of China's manned space program office, told a press conference after the reentry module of the Shenzhou X spacecraft landed after a 15-day mission.

Wang said the engineering work of a manned space station is carried out simultaneously according to the plan, and China plans to put in orbit an experimental core module of space station around 2018.

By 2020, China's manned space station would be built, he added.

Prior to that, China will launch a series of cargo and manned spacecraft to deliver material supplies and transport astronauts to the future space lab and space station, Wang said.

Special: China launches Shenzhou X spacecraft