The timetable for China's first-ever space station was given by Long Lehao, one of the leading designers of the Long March 3A rocket which carried a lunar probe into space late last month, the China Daily reported.

In an interview, he told the paper that the planned space station would be "a small-scale 20-tonne workshop."

The paper said it was the first time a precise date had been given for the station.

China has previously voiced interest in participating in the International Space Station being built in orbit jointly by the United States, Russia, Japan and a number of European countries.

But the US military and some lawmakers have opposed China's involvement in the station and other space cooperation with Beijing, viewing Beijing's young space programme as a potential threat to the US satellite system.

The China Daily did not explicitly say if the space station would be manned permanently.

However, previous reports outlining China's medium- to long-term plans for space have suggested it would have a permanent crew.

A crucial step in completing the plan will be construction of the powerful Long March 5 rocket, which will be capable of carrying heavier loads than the existing Long March 3, according to the paper.

Long's remarks were published as China's first lunar probe, the Chang'e 1, entered into final orbit around the moon, where it will carry out measurements of the lunar surface for at least a year.

China's space ambitions have attracted huge attention, notably since 2003 when it sent a man into space, only the third country to accomplish that feat after the United States and the former Soviet Union.

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