China may be the only country to have a space station in service in 2024, said Lei Fanpei, chairman of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp.

Lei said on Friday that China plans to launch the experimental core module of its space station around 2018 with a Long March 5 heavyload carrier rocket, and the 20 ton combination space station will be sent into orbit around 2022.

CASC is a major space developer.