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Viola Zhou

China’s Shenzhou-11 spacecraft blasted off on Monday morning carrying two astronauts to dock with an orbiting space laboratory.
The mission forms part of China’s plans to build a full space station by 2022
The spacecraft, carried on a Long March 2F rocket, was launched from a space centre in the Gobi desert in northwest China at about 7.30 am before entering its designated orbit.
It marks the start of China’s longest manned space mission, according to state media.
Chinese astronauts set for lift-off as manned missions resume
Shenzhou-11 will dock with the Tiangong-2 space laboratory where the astronauts will live for 30 days and conduct a series of tests and experiments.
Two-time veteran astronaut Jing Haipeng, 49, is leading the mission.
He is accompanied by Chen Dong, 37, who is making his debut in China’s space programme.
Jing’s previous space flights were on the Shenzhou-7 mission in 2008 and the Shenzhou-9 in 2012.


President Xi Jinping, who is currently visiting India, sent a message of congratulations for the successful lift-off which was read out at the launch centre by General Fan Changlong, vice-chairman of the powerful Central Military Commission.
“I hope of our comrades uphold the spirit of China’s manned space missions and do well in their subsequent tasks ... and make new contributions enabling us to become a strong space power,” the message said.
China’s hack-proof quantum satellite leap into space leads the world
A major task for the Shenzhou-11 mission is to test the technology used to build and operate a space station orbiting 393 km above the earth, according to the state run news agency Xinhua.
China hopes to launch a core module of the space station by about 2018 and the rest of the parts by 2022.
The astronauts will also carry out a series of scientific experiments, including three coming from the winners of a space science contest for Hong Kong schools last year.

“Their designs are full of creative ideas,” Chen said at a press conference before the launch.
The two astronauts will stay in orbit twice as long as the previous space crew sent to the Tiangong-1 space lab in 2013.
Final frontier: United Nations to fly first ever space mission aboard the Dream Chaser
The new crew will be provided with better exercise and medical facilities as well as psychological support during their mission, a spokesperson for the space programme said at a press conference on Sunday.
The two astronauts will also share details of the mission via text, audio and videos on Xinhua.
China plans to deploy a probe to Mars in 2020 and put astronauts on the moon in the coming decades.


China successfully launches manned spacecraft Shenzhou-11 to orbiting laboratory

Crew to spend 30 days in lab as part of bigger plan to build a space station

epa05588239 Chinese taikonauts Jin Haipeng (R) and Chen Dong wave during a farewell ceremony before embarking for the launch of the Shenzhou-11 spacecraft at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Jiuquan in Gansu province, China, 17 October 2016. China will launch the Shenzhou-11 spacecraft carrying two crew members into orbit to dock with the Tiangong-2 space lab on a 30-day mission on 17 October. EPA/HOW HWEE YOUNG

The Shenzhou-11 manned spacecraft blasts off from the launchpad at Jiuquan. Photo: Reuters

Chinese astronauts set for lift-off as manned missions resume

Shenzhou-11 spacecraft to blast off from Gobi Desert launch pad and dock with Tiangong 2 laboratory

(161017) -- JIUQUAN, Oct. 17, 2016 (Xinhua) -- The Shenzhou-11 manned spacecraft is ready for the launch at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Jiuquan, northwest China's Gansu Province, Oct. 17, 2016. (Xinhua/Li Gang) (yxb)

(160918) -- BEIJING, Sept. 18, 2016 (Xinhua) -- The combined photo taken on Sept. 15, 2016 shows China's space lab Tiangong-2 roaring into the air on the back of a Long March-2F rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China. (Xinhua/Ju Zhenhua) (yxb)

Chinese astronauts Jing Haipeng, right, and Chen Dong wave during a farewell ceremony before embarking for the launch of the Shenzhou-11 spacecraft at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in Gansu province. Photo: EPA

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Crew to spend 30 days in lab as part of bigger plan to build a space station


China successfully launches manned spacecraft Shenzhou-11 to orbiting laboratory

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Crew to spend 30 days in lab as part of bigger plan to build a space station

Crew to spend 30 days in lab as part of bigger plan to build a space station