{"id":19206,"date":"2016-10-16T18:19:31","date_gmt":"2016-10-16T10:19:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-productionenv-bjg9h2g2bgg5b8aa.southeastasia-01.azurewebsites.net\/news\/china-launches-two-astronauts-on-shenzhou-11-heading-for-orbital-laboratory\/"},"modified":"2016-10-16T18:19:31","modified_gmt":"2016-10-16T10:19:31","slug":"china-launches-two-astronauts-on-shenzhou-11-heading-for-orbital-laboratory","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/news\/china-launches-two-astronauts-on-shenzhou-11-heading-for-orbital-laboratory\/","title":{"rendered":"China launches two astronauts on Shenzhou 11, heading for orbital laboratory"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Shenzhou
A Chinese Long March 2F rocket rises from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi Desert, sending the Shenzhou 11 spacecraft with two Chinese spacefliers into orbit. (Credit: CCTV)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Two Chinese astronauts are on their way to an orbiting laboratory for a monthlong mission aimed at preparing the way for a full-fledged Chinese space station.<\/p>\n

Veteran military pilots Jing Haipeng and Chen Dong lifted off in the Shenzhou 11 spacecraft atop a Long March 2F rocket at China\u2019s Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi Desert at 7:30 a.m..Beijing time Monday (4:30 p.m. PT Sunday). Jing, a veteran of two earlier space missions, is the commander for what\u2019s expected to be the longest-lasting of China\u2019s six crewed spaceflights to date.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is any astronaut\u2019s dream and pursuit to be able to perform many space missions,\u201d The Associated Press quoted Jing as saying during a pre-launch briefing.<\/p>\n

Chinese President Xi Jinping, who\u2019s attending an economic summit in India, sent a message congratulating the launch team and calling on the country\u2019s astronauts to explore space more fully.<\/p>\n