Mission Called 'Perfect' By Chinese Space Authorities

The Shenzhou 10 spacecraft that spent 15 days in orbit returned safely to Earth Wednesday in a mission described as "perfect" by Wang Zhaohao, director of China's manned space program. The country is working towards establishing a permanent manned space station by 2020.

The Shenzhou 10 spacecraft docked with the Tiangong 1, completing the experimental orbiting lab's mission. The Associated Press reports that, in a news conference, Wang said no future missions are planned to the station.

Wang acknowledged that China is year behind other spacefaring nations. But Joan Jason-Freese, a professor of national security affairs at the U.S. Naval War College considered an expert on the Chinese space program, said that China is "in no hurry, but it's also very ambitious."

She said what China has is "political will" to move its manned space program forward, and that it does not face the financial pressure that keeps Western governments in check.

China is in the process of constructing Long March 5 boosters that it plans to use to carry components of its permanent space station into low Earth orbit.

FMI: http://www.cnsa.gov.cn/n615709/cindex.html