While the United States
recovers from problems with access to the International Space Station (ISS), yesterday China
launched a mock component so it could practice maneuvering for a future space station. The component, named "Heavenly Palace-1," will circle the earth for two years while manned and unmanned dockings are tested. China will be the third national to have a space station after the United States and Russia should it realize its goal sometime around 2022.
In the meantime, three crew members from the ISS successfully
returned to earth on September 16. The replacement crew is scheduled to return to the ISS on November 14 aboard a Soyuz 28 spacecraft. If the Russians have trouble meeting this schedule maybe we can hitch a ride with the Chinese.
