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At the recent Airshow China exhibition, the Chinese space agency described plans to launch a Chinese space station within less than ten years.

Designed to rival the International Space Station, although being much smaller, the Chinese space station will consist of a core module with two laboratory units for experiments. China is also developing a cargo spacecraft that will serve the space station and both will benefit from the latest technological advances.

The station would be designed to last for around ten years and will support three astronauts working on microgravity science, space radiation biology and astronomy.

Professor Jiang Guohua, from the China Astronaut Research and Training Centre, said: "we will adhere to the policy of opening up to the outside world," he said. "Scientists of all countries are welcome to participate in space science experimental research on China's space station."

This news item originally appeared on The Guardian website