China's space lab starts formal operation

BEIJING, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- China's orbiting Tiangong space station, which functions as a national space laboratory, has been put into operation, pushing forward space applications and achieving fruitful results, according to the China Manned Space Agency.

The agency's deputy director Lin Xiqiang made the remarks at a press conference on Friday. He added that the space lab also led to the establishment of a Chinese near-Earth space science and application system.

Lin highlighted some system features, including its advanced lab platform for research and application of many space science-related disciplines and its strong in-orbit experimental support that allows taikonauts, especially payload experts, to conduct various operations.