China is planning to launch its Shenzhou-9 manned spacecraft carrying three astronauts in mid-June to perform its first manned space docking mission with the orbiting Tiangong-1 space lab module.

The launch marks a step ahead to begin the development of a 60t space station by nearly 2020.

In early April 2012, the spacecraft and its launcher Long March-2F were delivered to the launch platform at Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in north-west China.

China manned space programme chief designer Zhou Jianping was quoted by Xinhua as saying that the Shenzhou-9 would perform the country’s first manned space docking mission with the orbiting Tiangong-1 space lab module.

"It means China’s spacecraft will become a genuine manned shuttle tool between space and Earth," Jianping said. "It can send human beings to space stations or space labs."

"It means China’s spacecraft will become a genuine manned shuttle tool between space and Earth."

According to the news agency, over the next few days, scientists will test the spacecraft and the rocket, in addition to joint tests on selected astronauts, spacecraft, launcher and ground systems.

Following the launch of Shenzhou-9, expected to stay in space for 15 to 20 days, two of the astronauts will perform scientific experiments by shifting into the Tiangong-1 module, while one of them will remain onboard the spacecraft as a safety measure in the event of an emergency.

The first launch opportunity is expected on 16 June.

The target module Tiangong-1, launched for long-term operation in space, completed a docking mission with the unmanned Shenzhou-8 spacecraft in November 2011, and is waiting for the docking of Shenzhou-9 and Shenzhou-10.

China is also planning to launch two space laboratories, as well as explore a manned moon-landing by 2016.