BEIJING - Three astronauts of the Shenzhou IX mission who conducted China's first manned space docking in June have received awards for their service to the country's space endeavors.

Jing Haipeng, commander of the Shenzhou IX flight crew, was honored with a second-class aerospace achievement medal. Liu Wang and Liu Yang, who is China's first female astronaut, were both conferred third-class medals.

They were given the awards on Monday at a ceremony, following a decision by the Communist Party of China Central Committee, the State Council and the Central Military Commission (CMC).

Three astronauts of the Shenzhou IX mission who conducted China's first manned space docking in June (from L to R), Liu Wang, Jing Haipeng and Liu Yang, pose with their awards at an award-giving ceremony to honor their service to the country's space endeavors, in Beijing on Oct 29, 2012. [Photo/Xinhua]

The three astronauts aboard Shenzhou IX spacecraft were sent into space on June 16. They successfully operated the spacecraft to conduct both automatic and manual space dockings with the target orbiter of Tiangong-1.

The three crew members also entered Tiangong-1, which was launched in September 2011, and completed a series of scientific experiments in space before returning to Earth on June 29.

At the ceremony, CMC Vice-Chairman Guo Boxiong congratulated the three astronauts and all the science and technology workers, officials and employees as well as army officers who participated in the mission.

Guo hailed the mission as a "milestone" and a "new glory" made by the Chinese people in their "mount towards the summit of science and technology."

Guo urged professionals in the space industry to carry forward the spirit of the manned space mission and continue to be unified and work hard.

He called on the whole armed forces to learn from the astronauts' fearless and adventurous spirit as well as their loyalty to the Party and the country.

Zhang Youxia, head of the General Armament Department, presided over Monday's ceremony.