China is likely to be the only country in the world to have a space station in 2024, when the International Space Station retires.

In such scenario, the rest of the world is likely to depend on China for their space research requirements.

China is currently in the process of launching various modules required for building a space station. The International Space Station (ISS) is the largest artificial habitat in the space. It was launched in 1998 and orbits Earth at average altitude of about 400 km. It represents five participating space agencies - the CSA, ESA, JAXA, NASA and Roscomos.

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The space station is used for research programs including human biology, meteorology and astronomy.  It is visible with naked eyes.

In the meantime, China's space station will consist of several modules including one core module and two lab modules. It will also have a number of docking ports for spacecrafts.

China recently launched Tiangong-2 from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.

By 2018, China plans to launch Tianhe-1 which forms the core module for the space station. The module will be lifted by Long March 5, the most powerful Chinese rocket.

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp. also stated that the country plans to send a 20-ton combination space station into orbit by 2022.

China started its space station program in 1992 with a three-pronged strategy. Once its space station is operational, China will become the second country in the world, after Russia, to have developed such kind of project.

TagsInternational Space Station, NASA, Tiangong-2