Commander-in-chief of China's manned space program Chang Wanquan announced Saturday that Shenzhou-9 spacecraft had accurately entered its orbit, calling the spaceship launch a success.

Shenzhou-9 to be carried by upgraded rocket

Shenzhou-9 spaceship will be thrust into space by an upgraded Long March-2F carrier rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.

The rocket is about 58 meters long, with a takeoff weight of 497 tonnes and a carrying capacity of more than 8,130 kilograms. It is equipped with escape function.

Space module Tiangong-1 ready for docking with Shenzhou-9

The space lab module Tiangong-1 has been lowered to the docking orbit 343 km above Earth and awaits rendezvous and docking with the manned spaceship Shenzhou-9. It is ready to accommodate astronauts.

Shenzhou-9 to stay 13 days in outer space

Shenzhou-9 spacecraft, carrying China's first female astronaut Liu Yang and two male ones Jing Haipeng and Liu Wang, is planned to travel for 13 days in outer space.

Two docking procedures, one automated and another manual, will be conducted between Shenzhou-9 and the orbiting space lab module Tiangong-1.

China's first female astronaut meets media

China's first female astronaut Liu Yang, together with her two male crew mates Jing Haipeng and Liu Wang, met the media on Friday.

The three astronauts will board the Shenzhou-9 spacecraft on Saturday at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China to fulfill China's first manned space docking mission.