China has more manned and laboratory spacecraft planned for launch, having made key technology break-throughs. The more advanced Long March Five large-scale carrier rocket, and Long March Seven, are planned to take their maiden flight within 2 years.

From 2016, expected launches include the Tian Gong Two space laboratory, the Shen Zhou Eleven manned space ship, and the Tian Zhou cargo spacecraft. Meanwhile, the construction of a new launch center in south China's Wen Chang in Hainan province is near completion. Its location nearer the equator will give future launches better thrust.

The nation has ambitions to build a fully-fledged space station by 2022.

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