China’s next space mission to be manned, will attempt to dock with space station module

China’s next space mission will carry three astronauts who will dock with and live inside an experimental orbiting module launched last year, state media said Friday. The Shenzhou 9 spacecraft will be launched aboard its Long March 2F rocket sometime between June and August, the official Xinhua News Agency said, citing an unidentified spokesman for the manned space program, known as Shenzhou, or “Sacred Vessel.” More

(Source: Washington Post - Feb 20)