China to launch Shenzhou-8 spacecraft

China will launch the Shenzhou-8 spacecraft on November 01 from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, located about 1,600 kms from Beijing.

According to the Chinese space agency (CNSA), the spacecraft will be remotely docked with the Tiangong 1 space module (launched on September 29), Xinhua reports.

This unmanned docking attempt - China's first - will be followed in 2012 with the manned Shenzhou 9 mission, which will perform a manned docking (also China's first) with the Tiangong 1 module.

Shenzhou 8 will feature a Russian androgynous docking module in place of the usual orbital module, and will perform its docking operation under ground control.