On February 27, audience of China Central Television was treated to a glimpse of their country's next space-age leap with a preview of the not-yet-complete Tiangong I space station. China's first space station is expected to be launched in late 2010.

SPACE DOCKING: In the two years after Tiangong I is launched around 2010, three Shenzou spacecraft will dock with it at different times

DEDICATION: Scientists working at the Beijing Aerospace Control Center

The same day, a spokesperson for China's manned space program told Xinhua that Tiangong I's development is moving forward along with the systems it will need once in space. A prototype of the space module, whose name means "palace in heaven," is almost complete and engineers have started research in the station's docking process.

"A space station is like a mansion in space that is assembled in its orbit," said Jiao Weixin, a professor in the School of Earth and Space Sciences at Peking University. The parts are being built on Earth and will be launched into orbit using large rockets, where robotic arms will assemble them.

Scientists hope the new station will provide a better platform for human beings to understand space and perform experiments.

"A spacecraft usually flies in space for a week or so. It has limited time to conduct scientific research," said Jiao. A space station, however, can stay in orbit for a long time and scientists can run various experiments and develop space products, he said.

Since a space laboratory is subject to almost no gravity and operates in a vacuum, it is ideal to conduct research in the life sciences and material sciences that cannot be done on Earth. Scientists can breed new crops, invent new drugs and create new materials, along with conducting research in astronomy, Earth observation and navigation.

While Tiangong I will serve as a residence and laboratory for visiting astronauts to conduct experiments, it will also be able to operate independently when there is no crew aboard. Spacecraft will be able to dock to ferry cargo and crew between Earth and the station.

Three steps into space

China's manned space program, which began in 1992, is being carried out in three stages, said Wang Zhaoyao, a spokesperson for China National Space Administration (CNSA).