China to Launch Space Lab this Thursday, 2 Astronauts to Man the Station

China dreams of being the next "space giant." In line with that, they are continuously strengthening their space program. This Thursday, the second Chinese space lab Tiangong-2 will be launched in space. A manned mission will follow it next month.

All these are in preparation for China's planned permanent space station to operate in 2022. Earlier, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced that his government will establish the country as a space giant. Since then, various space missions have been launched and a lot more are in the works.

With the success of China's experimental space mission Tiangong-1 in 2013, the country is more confident more than ever to proceed with their plans in putting a Chinese space station in orbit. Tiangong-2 is scheduled to launch after 10:00 pm on Sept. 15 from the Juiquan launch pad in Gobi dessert.

After the space lab is in place, another Chinese spacecraft Shenzhou 11 will dock into Tiangong-2 to carry two astronauts to man the station. This mission is reportedly going to take place next month. The astronaut's mission will last for a month in space, the longest Chinese manned mission in space.

Tiangong-2 will be equipped with scientific instruments to enable it to monitor physics in outer space including the study of microgravity and gamma rays. The new Chinese space station is capable of studying at least 10 gamma rays each year.

Tiangong-2 has not left the launch pad yet, but reports say that a successful lift off will entail celebrations during China's National Day starting on Oct. 1. It will also coincide with the Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations and the full moon.

"Launching Tiangong 2 is a key battle in comprehensively completing the space laboratory stage mission, and will establish a firm foundation for our country's continued space station construction and operation," Wu Ping, mission spokesperson said in a statement.

China also launched the first "quantum satellite" last month and the Chinese Space Agency is currently working on the hack-proof communications "quantum key transmission" between based on Earth and space.

The success of former space projects and the eminent launched of Tiangong-2 further strengthen China's aspirations of being the next space giant. "It shows we have got the basic skills to handle large-scale space applications." Spokesperson Wu Ping said in another statement.

Based on reports, Tiangong-2 has more suitable living conditions for the crew that will allow the completion of the longest Chinese manned mission in space that will last for 30 days.