China to Launch a New Space Station in 2016

China says it will launch its second space station, the Tiangong-2, in 2016. It will go into orbit aboard a Long Rocket 5 and replace the nation's current space station, the Tiangong-1, which will eventually be de-orbited. The 47-foot Tiangong-2 will be able to house a crew of three. This new project represents the second of three planned space habitations by the Chinese space agency. While Tiangong-1 is largely regarded as a prototype space station for the fledging Chinese space program, 2 is a stepping stone to Tiangong-3, planned for 2022, which will become the basis for a larger overall station. The agency is currently recruiting astronauts for the second space habitation. More

(Source: Popular Mechanics - Mar 11)