What’s Next for China?

With Yang Liwei safely on the ground, China took advantage of their space momentum to highlight their future plans. Officials from the Chinese Space Agency announced today on state television that another Shenzhou flight will take place within one to two years. After that will come a series of flights to master docking spacecraft and spacewalking. And then the Chinese intend to build a space station of their own; nothing as elaborate as Mir or the International Space Station, which will be serviced by Shenzhou.