Manned spacecraft flown to launch site (2)

Key technologies

Research will be conducted to test the astronauts' abilities to adapt to the environment in the space module.

Tests will also be made on spacecraft repairs and other key technologies necessary for the development of a space station.

Astronauts are also to give science lectures to teenagers back on Earth during the mission.

Meanwhile, all tests have been completed on the spacecraft's carrier rocket, a modified Long March-2F, Bao said.

This summer's mission will be China's fifth manned mission since Yang Liwei became the country's first man in space in 2003.

China is aiming to launch a space laboratory in 2016 and its first space station, made up of three capsules, should be in orbit around 2020.

China also plans to build a space infrastructure composed of Earth-observation satellites, communication satellites, and navigation and positioning satellites.

By 2020, China could have more than 200 spacecraft in orbit, a fifth of the world's total.