China Space Exploration: China prepares to develop space station by 2022

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For China, the sky is not the limit. It's looking far beyond. The country has big projects in the works for space exploration. One could be up and running in just a few years. CGTN's Frances Kuo has more on the steps it's taking to get there.

The next frontier of China's space exploration program -- its first permanent, manned space station. It's expected to be ready for service in 2022. To reach that goal, China is designing and developing a telescope and four modules. The core module will have docking areas for cargo ships and manned spacecraft.

ZHOU JIANPING, CHIEF DESIGNER CHINA'S SPACE STATION "We also have an important scientific facility -- the optical module. It will carry a space telescope that has a two-meter diameter lens with the same level of image resolution as the well-known Hubble telescope."

And, it will go a step further -- by offering a field of view 300 times that of the hubble. Tests begin this month on a new heavy-lift rocket. It will carry crucial parts to the space station. Ahead of this month's CPPCC first session, China's first astronaut, Yang Liwei, said the space station has been a top priority after the successful launch of space lab Tiangong-2.

YANG LIWEI, DEPUTY DIRECTOR CHINA'S MANNED SPACE PROGRAM OFFICE "China has harnessed the three fundamental technologies in space expedition: space transportation, astronaut extravehicular mission and space rendezvous. It's safe to say that we are capable of building our own space station. This year is crucial for our research work."

China may have the only orbiting station in space once it's completed. It's designed to last for at least 10 years. The station will likely play a major role in carrying on the functions of the international space station, which may retire in 2024. Frances Kuo, CGTN.