News in Science

China targets space station, moon

China has set its sights on a trip to the moon and an orbiting space station after completing a historic mission that included the country's first space walk.

China laid out the ambitious targets after the return to earth of its third human mission into space, a 68-hour voyage hailed as a major boost to its space ambitions.

"We believe that as long as we can make further progress in science and technology, we can achieve the dream of a manned space flight to the moon in the near future," says Wang Zhaoyao, spokesman for China's space programme.

China is aiming to build a long-term orbiting space facility in 2020, followed by a lunar mission at an undetermined date, says Wang.

He adds that China's plans called for new missions from 2011 aimed at developing the knowledge - such as docking technologies - required for long-term space habitation.

These would ultimately build up to a lunar mission, he says, although he did not give a date.

"We believe it is necessary for China to do (a human lunar mission)," says Wang.

However, he did not specify whether that meant a lunar landing or merely an orbital mission.

China sent its first human into space in 2003, following up with a two-person mission in 2005.

The success of the program has frequently given rise to speculation about a possible lunar mission, but Wang stressed that the technical capabilities of such an undertaking would be daunting even for China's fast-expanding space reach.

Historic spacewalk

On Saturday, mission commander Zhai Zhigang etched his name in the history books with a 15-minute walk in space that set another milestone in China's transformation into a global power.

"The mission was glorious and full of challenges but the result was perfect. I feel proud of my country," says Zhai.

Zhai was watched on television by countless millions around the globe as his spacewalk brought China alongside the United States and the former Soviet Union as the only nations to complete a spacewalk.

During the excursion, Zhai wore a Chinese-made spacesuit that also has been touted as a breakthrough in China's technical capacity.

Tethered to the craft with two safety wires and holding a Chinese flag, Zhai retrieved a test sample of a solid lubricant placed outside the orbital module during the spacewalk.

The modest drill was intended to replicate the type of task that future spacewalkers will have to perform.

The spacewalk was the highlight of the voyage and is considered an important step towards China's plans to building a space station.