China unveils space telescope plan as next space station crew prepares to launch

China announced plans to send a new telescope to probe deep into the universe as it prepared to launch the country’s next, three-member crew for its orbiting space station (Andy Wong/AP)

China announced plans to send a new telescope to probe deep into the universe as it prepared to launch the country’s next, three-member crew for its orbiting space station.

The telescope, dubbed Xuntian, will be installed by China’s Tiangong space station and will co-orbit with it, according to a statement from Lin Xiqiang, deputy director-general of the Chinese Manned Space Agency.