At 21:16, on Sept. 29, 2011, Tiangong-1, or Heavenly Palace, blasted off successfully from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. Bai Chunli, President of CAS, sent congratulation letters to all the related institutes involved in the Tiangong-1 Mission upon the successful launch. The institutes include National Space Science Center, Space Application Engineering and Technology Center (in preparation), Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics, Shanghai Institute of Technical Physics, Institute of Physics.

　　The original congratulation letter is as follows:

　　Upon hearing the successful launch of Tiangong-1, on behalf of CAS, I would like to offer heartfelt congratulations to all the research staff involved in testing and launching of Tiangong-1.

　　The successful launch of Tiangong-1 target spacecraft marks a milestone in the history of manned spaceflight, which paves the way for China’s first spacecraft rendezvous and docking. On Tiangong-1, the space application system will conduct geospace environment observation and photonic crystals experiment, which is a great leap forward in space application technology in China and will exert profound influence on our economic power, technology power, defense power and national cohesion. A solid foundation will be laid to expand the upcoming space application tasks and develop farsighted and innovative space application high technology and science research.

　　CAS plays the chairing role in our country’s manned spaceflight project and one of the most important performers of the manned spaceflight project in China. All the institutes from CAS who are engaged and involved in the mission made excellent collaboration with concerned research institutes and the research staff had interpreted the essence of the spirit of Chinese Space people to the fullest, which ensure the success and make contribution to CAS and the nation at large.

　　China’s space career has a long journey ahead. The spirit of Chinese Space people should be further exemplified and the good tradition of CAS should be carried on so as to better complete the upcoming tasks and make more contributions to Chinese manned space project.

　　(Supplied by Office of International Cooperation)