China on Saturday sent three astronauts, including its first female astronaut Liu Yang, into space for the nation's manned space docking mission.



Shenzhou-9 spacecraft, atop an upgraded Long March-2F carrier rocket, blast off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China's Gobi dessert at 6:37 p.m. Saturday.

Shenzhou-9 will complete an automated docking procedure with the orbiting Tiangong-1 lab module in two days. The astronauts will then attempt a manual docking which is considered as a major step forward in China's manned space program to build a space station around 2020.

About 20 minutes after the ignition, commander-in-chief of China's manned space program Chang Wanquan announced the Shenzhou-9 spacecraft had accurately entered its orbit and the launch was successful.

President Hu Jintao, who is in Denmark for a state visit, said in a congratulatory letter that he was very glad to hear the success of launching Shenzhou-9 and "would like to extend warm congratulations and sincere regards to all those participating in the research and tests (of the country's space program)."

Xinhua