Promoting innovation in space science

China has always known that only through innovation in space science and technology can it become a space power. In the past year, scientists and engineers have made major breakthroughs in the technology needed for space exploration.

Tianzhou-1, China's first cargo spacecraft, was launched into space and docked with the orbiting Tiangong-2 space laboratory last week. A retrievable scientific research satellite, SJ-10, went into space in April 2016 and completed experiments in microgravity and space life science.

In June 2016, Long March-7 Y2, the medium-sized carrier rocket used to lift Tianzhou-1, made its maiden flight. Four months later, the Shenzhou-11 manned spacecraft was launched and docked with Tiangong-2 where the two astronauts lived for 33 days.