BEIJING - China has established its first national key lab in fundamental and applied studies of aerospace medicine, which is set to provide significant research support for astronauts' health during space missions, according to the Ministry of Science and Technology.

The ministry signed off the lab as up to standard on Tuesday. Construction of the lab began in September 2009.

Built in the China Astronaut Center of Beijing Aerospace City, the lab is the country's first lab dedicated to aerospace medical research, said Li Yinghui, a senior scientist with the China Manned Space Engineering project.