PHOTOS: Tiangong-1, China's first step to a space lab

China is all geared up to launch into space on Thursday the first part of its maiden space lab Tiangong-1, which will form the test-bed for a larger 60-ton space station to be put in place by 2020.

Official media in Beijing reported that fuel has been injected into the Long March-2FT1 carrier rocket in preparation for launching the Tiangong-1 space module on Thursday evening.

There is considerable interest in Long March-2FT1 rocket that is the latest modified model of the Long March-2 rocket series and features a more powerful thrust force.

The Long March-2FT1, which has been given more than 170 improvements, is 52-metres long with a payload to low Earth orbit of 8.6 tonnes, Wu Ping, spokeswoman of the the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in northwest China from where it will launched told media.

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The modifications to the rocket were carried after Long March-2C rocket failed to send an experimental satellite into orbit on August 8, which was the first such setback after about 35 launches.

Engineers conducted comprehensive technical evaluations and made modifications to Tiangong-1's Long March-2F carrier rocket, which shares most of its components with the failed Long March-2C.

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China has said that its space station, which is considerably smaller than the current 450-ton International Space Station will last for around a decade and support three astronauts working on microgravity science, space radiation biology and astronomy.

The Tiangong-1, Chinese name for Heavenly Palace will dock with China's Shenzhou-8, -9 and -10 spacecraft to be sent in the next few years.

Unmanned docking procedures will be essential for China's eventual goal of establishing a manned space station around 2020.

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According to the China National Space Administration (CNSA), Tiangong-1 is an eight-ton-class space lab prototype with a cylinder-shaped body and two docking ports on its ends.

Both the Tiangong-1 and Shengzhou 8 are unmanned.

"The Shenzhou-9 and 10 will be piloted if the rendezvous result of the Shenzhou-8 and Tiangong-1 turn out well," an official recently told Xinhua news agency.

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Space docking technology is key for building a space station and docking failures can have catastrophic consequences, he said.

China currently embarked on an ambitious space programme which included creating a new satellite system to rival GPS, a second moon mission to land a rover as a follow up to its successful lunar probe, Chang'e-II.

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