China's first female astronaut has safely returned to Earth.  Liu Yang, along with crew mates, Liu Want, and comander Jing Haipeng, landed by parachute in Mongolia earlier today, after spending 13 days in orbit; maneuvering and docking with Tiangong 1 space module.  This mission was part of a larger program to learn the necessary technology for China to launch their own space station.  Plans for that station suggest a launch somewhere around 2020, with a station about the size of "Skylab".  

"The mission had included both remote control and piloted dockings with the module and extensive medical monitoring of the astronauts as part of preparations for manning a permanent space station.

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory/china-capsule-returns-earth-space-mission-16675414#.T-07Zxee7KE