This mission will be implemented from the end of September to
the middle of November, during which time the Tiangong-1 target
vehicle and Shenzhou 8 spaceship will be launched in succession
to carry out rendezvous and docking. The Long March 2F T1 rocket
launching Tiangong-1 is scheduled to lift off during a launch
window that extends from 21:16 to 21:31 (1316-1331 GMT;
8:16-8:31 a.m. CDT) on Sept. 29. The main tasks of the
Tiangong-1 spaceflight include: to provide a target vehicle for
space rendezvous and docking experiments; to primarily establish
a manned space test platform capable of long-term unmanned
operation in space with temporary human attendance, and thus
accumulate experiences for the development of a space station;
to carry out space science experiments, space medical
experiments and space technology experiments. According to the
schedule, Tiangong-1 will have two orbit maneuvers after launch
before entering a 350 km (217 mile) near circular orbit and
conducting in-orbit tests. Before the launc