China Prepares to Launch Its First Space Laboratory Module Tiangong-1

A Long March 2F rocket carrying Tiangong-1, China’s first unmanned space module, stands at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on September 28, 2011 in Jiuquan, Gansu Province of China. Tiangong-1,a small unmanned space lab, will be launched at 21:19 (Beijing time) on September 29, 2011, and will attempt a docking procedure with a Shenzhou 8 spacecraft later in the mission. (Lintao Zhang/Getty Images AsiaPac)

A Long March 2F rocket carrying Tiangong-1, China’s first unmanned space module, is reflected in the glasses at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on September 28, 2011 in Jiuquan, Gansu Province of China. (Lintao Zhang/Getty Images AsiaPac)

Chinese security stands near a Long March 2F rocket carrying Tiangong-1, China’s first unmanned space module, stands at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on September 28, 2011 in Jiuquan, Gansu Province of China. (Lintao Zhang/Getty Images AsiaPac)

A workers at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center run checks before the launch of the Tiangong-1 spacecraft on September 26, 2011 in Jiuquan, Gansu Province of China. (ChinaFotoPress/Getty Images AsiaPac)

Staff from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center perpare for the launch of the Tiangong-1 spacecraft on September 26, 2011 in Jiuquan, Gansu Province of China. (ChinaFotoPress/Getty Images AsiaPac)