China preps manned flight for space docking

This is the Shenzhou 9 spacecraft, which China plans to launch some time in summer to dock with the Tiangong 1 space module.

(SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) DEPUTY COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF CHINA'S MANNED SPACE PROGRAMME, NIU HONGGUANG, SAYING:

"The plan is to launch Shenzhou 9 sometime between June and August. It will conduct manned meeting and docking exercises with the Tiangong 1 target spacecraft, which is in space now."

The spacecraft will carry three astronauts, and it will be the first time for China that a manned spacecraft connects with the Tiangong 1 space module.

Here, prospective astronauts can be seen training underwater.

China successfully carried out its first unmanned docking exercise between Shenzhou 8 and Tiangong 1 last November - a milestone in the rising power's plans to secure a long-term foothold in space.

China aims to have a fully fledged space station by around 2020, but is still some way from catching up with established space superpowers the United States and Russia.

Nick Rowlands, Reuters