Launch center prepares for new manned mission

The modified model of Long March-2F carrier rocket is seen at the launch site in the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, Gansu province, June 9, 2013. China will launch a manned spacecraft in the middle of this month for its third space rendezvous and docking mission. The spacecraft will send three astronauts to the Tiangong-1 space module, which has been orbiting Earth since 2011, and for the first time astronauts will give a science lecture from space to adolescents. [Zou Hong/Asianewsphoto]

Special report