--- title: "China Announces “Imminent Launch” of New Space Station" description: "China has announced the \"imminent launch\" of the first mission to build its new orbital space station, according to state and local media." date: "2019-03-05" modified: "2019-03-05" authors: - name: "Jon Christian" job_title: "Executive Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/jonc.md" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/china-announces-space-station-launch" categories: - "Off-World" - "Space" tags: - "china" - "orbit" - "space station" - "the digest" --- # China Announces “Imminent Launch” of New Space Station ![China has announced the "imminent launch" of the first mission to build its new orbital space station, according to state and local media.]() *\Image: CSNA\* ## Imminent Launch China has announced the "imminent launch" of the first mission to build its new orbital space station, [according to the Hong Kong newspaper *The* *South China Morning Post*](). The country's space program is training astronauts and planning to move the first module to a launch site — and though details are still scarce, it's the latest sign that China's leadership is investing heavily in the country's space capabilities. ## Ramping Up State-run news agency *Xinhua* [corroborated the *SCMP*'s report](), adding that the first module of the station will be launched on a heavy-lift Long March-5 rocket. "China is scheduled to complete the construction of the space station around 2022," reads *Xinhua*'s report. "It will be the country's space lab in long-term stable in-orbit operation." ## Three Modules China's new space station won't be huge, according to the *SCMP* — it'll comprise three modules, and the whole thing will house up to three astronauts at a time. The Chinese space program already has a small station in orbit**,** Tiangong-2, but it's scheduled to be de-orbited this summer, according to *Xinhua.* **READ MORE:** [Lift-off soon for China’s space station mission]() \[*The South China Morning Post*\] **More on China:** *China Plans to Launch a Mars Rover Next Year* ## Author I'm responsible for editing, assigning, and scouting at Futurism, as well as occasionally writing for the site. That work involves keeping an eye on a wide range of narratives and issues, but over the past few years I've become increasingly interested in how AI is shaping the future of media, the web, and information itself. My day-to-day often involves collaborating on reporting and commentary projects bylined by my colleagues, but I try to find time to do my own reporting as well; stories I've broken for Futurism have been cited by publications including the New York Times, the Washington Post, the New Yorker, Wired, Ars Technica, New York Magazine, the Columbia Journalism Review, Bloomberg, and more. I grew up in Southern Vermont and attended Vanderbilt University. Prior to Futurism, I contributed to outlets including the Boston Globe, Vice, Wired, Slate, the Atlantic, the Outline, Ars Technica and more, and did stints in farming and food service. I currently live in Brooklyn, New York, and in my free time I enjoy pinball, word games, cycling, running, and music production. ### Author social links [Bluesky]() ## More - [China Launching First Module of New Space Station This Week]() - [China’s Plans for “Heavenly Palace” Space Station Are Dazzling]() - [China Repairs Space Station Damaged by Debris Strike]() - [China Reportedly Working on “Ultra-Large” Spacecraft That’s Miles Across]() - [China’s New Space Station Is Called The “Heavenly Palace”]() - [China’s New Space Station Is Powered by Ion Thrusters]() - [China Just Launched the First Astronauts to Its Space Station]() - [The Bunks in the Chinese Space Station Are Absolutely Enormous]()