According to official report today, TG-1 will be launched at end of 2010 or 2011, followed by SZ-8, 9, 10 within 2 years. And according to the official Chinese Manned space Program site revealed earlier, TG-2 and 3, as well as another 4 manned ships will be launched by 2015. The announced TG-1 life is two years. So it is reasonable to assume TG-2 and 3 will have same lifespan. Then, let me have a prediction: TG-2 launched in 2012, followed by SZ-11 and 12 in 2012 and 2013; TG-3 launched in 2014, followed by SZ-13 and 14 in 2014 and 2015. Of course, actual launches will most likely have some delays.
Does this mean SZ 8 and 9 are simply unmanned ships to test docking, or will they leave their OM's as parts of the station?And as a matter of curiousity; which 'official Chinese Manned space Program site' do you mean?
Hi Phil,This video has a LOT of different configurations for the Chinese spacelabs of the future.How accurate is it ? Depends on if you trust the video, but it is claimed to be from CNSA
Beijing, Nov.11 (China Defense Mashup Report) — When China awarded people who made outstanding contributions to the Shenzhou VII manned space flight during a meeting on last Friday (Nov.07), CCTV (China Central Television Station) played a documentary, which unleashed a clip of CG video to display how China’s future “Tiangong” Space Lab to be assembled in orbit.
QuoteBeijing, Nov.11 (China Defense Mashup Report) — When China awarded people who made outstanding contributions to the Shenzhou VII manned space flight during a meeting on last Friday (Nov.07), CCTV (China Central Television Station) played a documentary, which unleashed a clip of CG video to display how China’s future “Tiangong” Space Lab to be assembled in orbit.From http://www.china-defense-mashup.com/
Here's another view of a spacelab: