China plans to launch an unmanned space module, Tiangong-1, next year, which is expected to accomplish the country's first docking and is regarded as an essential step toward a space station.

Tiangong, or the Heavenly Palace, would finally be transformed into a manned space lab after experimental dockings with three Shenzhou craft - expected in space within two years following the module's launch - said Qi Faren, former chief designer of Shenzhou spaceships.

Qi, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, made the remarks on the sidelines of the annual full session of the top political advisory body.

A spokesman for China's space program said in February last year that the country planned to launch the unmanned module into orbit as early as the end of 2010 but Qi said the delay was due to technical reasons.

Weighing about 8.5 tons, Tiangong-1 is able to perform long-term unattended operations.

When transformed into a manned space lab, Tiangong would provide a "safe room" for Chinese taikonauts to live in and conduct research in zero gravity, Qi said.

Its scheduled docking with the unmanned Shenzhou-8 would be the country's first, Qi said.

He said Shenzhou-9 and Shenzhou-10, the two spaceships to dock with Tiangong-1, would carry two or three astronauts each.

The spaceships may carry seeds from Taiwan.

Liang Xiaohong, also a CPPCC National Committee member and Party chief of the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, said yesterday that Tiangong-1 would be launched on a modified Long March II-F carrier rocket.

Researchers had made about 170 complicated technological modifications to streamline the Long March II-F model, Liang said.

An experimental model of the improved rocket has already been assembled, and will be sent to a satellite launch center for tests.

In September 2008, China launched its third manned spacecraft Shenzhou-7, following Shenzhou-5 in 2003 and Shenzhou-6 in 2005.

Meanwhile, China is building a carrier rocket production base in the northern municipality of Tianjin, according to Liang.

Covering an area of more than 1 million square meters, the base would be capableof producing 12 carrier rockets each year once completed.

(Xinhua News Agency March 3, 2010)