China’s first women in space could become fourth Asian lady in space
15 May 2012
On 5 May 2012 during a farewell celebration for the CALT (China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology) team departing to the launch site for the preparation of the launch of SZ-9 from JSLC (Jiuquan Space Launch Centre), Liu Yu, Chief Commander of CZ-2F mentioned in his speech that soon China's first female taikonaut will travel together with two male colleagues to the Tiangong 1 space station.
http://www.calt.com/xwzx/zyxw/2012050512215011b2d8.html
It might be that the decision makers within the Chinese space programme have already decided who is the first female taikonaut but similar to the first decades of the Soviet space programme, the decision is usually published on the last moment.
Already on 5 March 2012, Qi Faren Chief Designer of Chinas manned space craft system
Read more: China’s first women in space could become fourth Asian lady in space
China Satellite Launch & Tracking Control General (CLTC) is first customer for Australia's first space satellite park
16 May 2012
Australia’s only dedicated satellite park, SSC Space Australia, in West Australia (WA) is now open for business. The park is owned and financed by its parent, Swedish Space Corporation, which selected WA for the facility as part of its international expansion strategy due to its geographically critical coverage area for global satellite tracking. The satellite park secured its first customer in October with China Satellite Launch & Tracking Control General (CLTC) which is part of the ambitious Chinese space programme. CLTC runs China's launch sites and tracks and controls its spacecraft, and is part of the army's General Armaments Department. SSC has been providing the space station tracking component s for the first two Chinese space missions, according to SSC Australia President Brian Mann. The Dongara East facility was used by SSC for supporting the docking between Shenzhou VIII and the Tiangong-1 experimental module.
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Captured for the very first time: Tiangong 1 transiting the sun
15 May 2012
Thierry Legault, the master of the masters of astrophotography, captured a photo of the Tiangong 1 space module transiting the sun on 11 May. This photo makes him the world champion in photographing Tiangong in front of our home star.
MORE on Thierry's website ...
China is aiming for three more Beidou satellites this year
17 May 2012
China will launch another three satellites for the Beidou system. Two satellites will be launched together on a single rocket in August, and another will be launched in October, said Ran Chengqi, director of the China Satellite Navigation Office, at the third China Satellite Navigation Conference, which opened in Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong province, on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the system is expected to be adopted by some of China's neighboring countries in the next year or two. "Many of China's neighboring countries, such as Pakistan and Mongolia, have shown strong interest in the system," Ran said.
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