China鈥檚 latest crewed space mission blasted off from a remote desert site on Thursday, on a trip expected to include the nation鈥檚 first spacewalk.
The Shenzhou 7 spacecraft shot up from the Jiuquan launch centre in the northwestern province of Gansu at exactly 2110 (1310 GMT), the official Xinhua news agency said.
It is China鈥檚 third crewed space venture since October 2003, when it joined Russia and the United States as the only countries to have sent astronauts into space.
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The spacewalk, which China plans to televise live, is expected on Saturday. Military pilot Zhai Zhigang will perform the tethered walk wearing China鈥檚 homemade Feitian spacesuit.
The ability to perform extra-vehicular activity is essential for China鈥檚 long-term goals of assembling an orbiting station in the next decade and possibly sending astronauts to the moon.
鈥楽acred task鈥�
Chinese President Hu Jintao stood before the three white-suited astronauts before they headed toward the Long March rocket, and hailed them as heroes.
鈥淭his will be a major step forward for our country鈥檚 aerospace technology,鈥� he told them at the launch site. 鈥淵ou can certainly fulfil this glorious and sacred task. The motherland and its people await your triumphant return.鈥�
China鈥檚 rapidly advancing programme has raised disquiet in Western capitals, and in Tokyo, that China has military ambitions in space, especially after a Chinese anti-satellite missile test last year. Beijing rejects the charges.
鈥淐hina always advocates the peaceful use of outer space,鈥� Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said. 鈥淭he ultimate goal of China鈥檚 manned space projects is to explore and peacefully use outer space, boost national economic development and people鈥檚 well-being.鈥�
China鈥檚 official media have lovingly described countless details of the mission. The astronauts will have a choice of nearly 80 foods, including spicy 鈥渒ung-pao鈥� chicken, and take traditional Chinese medicine made of more than 10 herbs to treat space motion sickness, Xinhua reported.
China has arrayed five satellite tracking ships to follow the craft鈥檚 journey of three days or so, and helicopters and vehicles are ready to meet it on returning to Earth in Inner Mongolia.
