A modified model of the Long March CZ-2F rocket carrying the unmanned spacecraft Shenzhou-8 blasts off from the launch pad at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China's Gansu Province, Nov. 1, 2011. (Xinhua/Li Gang)
JIUQUAN -- China's unmanned spacecraft Shenzhou-8 blasted off at 5:58 a.m. Beijing Time Tuesday from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern desert area.
The spacecraft, carried by a modified Long March-2F carrier rocket, is expected to dock with Tiangong-1 space lab module that was sent into space on Sept. 29.
The rendezvous and docking maneuver will take place within two days after the launch of Shenzhou-8, and the practice will build up experience for further docking with Shenzhou-9 and -10 in 2012 and the building of a permanent manned space station around 2020.
