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𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐚 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝𝐥𝐲 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 “𝐔𝐥𝐭𝐫𝐚-𝐋𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞” 𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐟𝐭 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐀𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬
Crewed space missions call for colossal engineering projects. Case in point, researchers in China are investigating the possibility of assembling a spacecraft in orbit. The project is part of the nation's ambitions to expand space exploration, which encompasses crewed missions operating on long-term timescales. The proposal from the National Natural Science Foundation of China calls for an analysis of the mechanics of constructing an "ultra-large spacecraft spanning kilometers", according to an initial report from the South China Morning Post. In other words, China just told the world it's interested in building a spacecraft that is miles long....