China has taken the next step in its (quest) to become a major space power with the launch of the (unmanned) Shenzhou 8 vehicle.
The (spacecraft) rode a Long March 2F rocket into orbit where it will attempt to rendezvous and dock with the Tiangong-1 lab, (launched) in September.
It would be the first time China has (joined) two space vehicles together.
The capability is required if the country is to carry through its plan to build a space station by about 2020.
The Long March carrier rocket lifted away from the Jiuquan spaceport in the Gobi Desert at 05:58, Tuesday (21:58 GMT Monday). TV cameras relayed the ascent to orbit.
Source from BBC