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China to launch 5th manned spacecraft
June 11, 2013, 3:26 am

The spacecraft will travel in space for 15 days. (Xinhua Images)

The spacecraft will travel in space for 15 days [Xinhua]

China will launch its fifth manned spacecraft on Tuesday with three astronauts on board, a decade after its first astronaut entered space.

The Shenzhou-10 manned spacecraft will be launched at 5:38 p.m. Tuesday in the Gobi desert, said Wu Ping, China’s manned space programme spokeswoman, at a press conference on Monday.

The spacecraft will carry two men, Nie Haisheng and Zhang Xiaoguang, and a woman Wang Yaping.

The Shenzhou-10 spacecraft will travel in space for 15 days.

This mission aims to further test technologies of docking and supporting astronauts’ stay in space, as well as use new technologies related to the construction of a space station, she said.

In 2003, China joined ranks with Russia and the US after launching its first manned mission, the Shenzhou 5.

Source: Agencies