China’s unmanned spacecraft Shenzhou 8 successfully launches

October 30, 2011

A rocket carrying the unmanned spacecraft Shenzhou 8 blasts off Nov. 1 from the launch pad at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China’s Gansu Province.

BEIJING (AP) — China’s unmanned spacecraft Shenzhou 8 blasted off Tuesday morning, the Chinese state media reported.
It is the latest step in what will be a decade-long effort by China to place a manned permanent space station in orbit.
The state-run Xinhua News Agency said the spacecraft took off from a base in the far western city of Jiuquan. Minutes later, the news agency cited Chang Wanquan, who leads China’s space program, announced the launch a success.

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