President Hu Jintao on Thursday night applauded the successful launch of China's first space lab module Tiangong 1, and shook hands with the staff of the Beijing Aerospace Flight Control Center.

Other members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, including Wu Bangguo, Jia Qinglin, Li Changchun, Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang and Zhou Yongkang, were also present at the control center.

Premier Wen Jiabao and He Guoqiang, also members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, shook hands with the staff at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center to congratulate on the success.

Tiangong 1, which is scheduled to dock with the Shenzhou 8 spacecraft later this year, will pave the way for building China's first space station.

(Xinhua News Agency September 29, 2011)