China is close to launching its own International Space Station. The Tiangong-1, “heavenly palace”, is one of several modules that will hook up to form a space station. The first 8.5-ton module will be shot into space later this year.
Eventually, the space station will play host to unmanned and manned Chinese spacecraft. Even though China shows interest in cooperating with the International Space Station, China’s docking standards are not compatible with the ISS. Sorry folks, no blackmail pictures of China’s first astronauts partying it up with the crew of the ISS. [Space via Dvice]