中国2016年最少将进行20项太空任务

China has announced that it will carry out at least 20 space missions this year.

中国宣布今年将进行至少20项太空任务。

The missions will cover a variety of projects including manned spacecraft Shenzhou-11, China's satellite navigation system as well as satellites for civilian and commercial use.

The Tiangong-2 space lab will also be launched, with the Shenzhou-11 spaceship set to dock with it.

Lei Fanpei, director of China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation, said that the successful launch of Tiangong-2 will mark a new era of progress for China's efforts in space.

"The mission will mainly focus on the docking technology. Compared to Tiangong-1 space lab module, Tiangong-2 space lab has more advantages on data transmission, as well as better conditions for doing experiments."

Earlier in 2012, 3 Chinese astronauts successfully completed a manual docking between the Shenzhou-9 spacecraft and the orbiting Tiangong-1 lab module.

China is also set to send two new models of carrier rockets in the Long March series on their maiden space trips.