Second space lab, new astronauts on the way

China will soon have two space laboratories in service and is selecting engineers to join its third batch of astronauts, a senior space official said on Friday.

"The Tiangong-1 space lab is in good condition, its equipment is functioning normally and fuel is sufficient for further operations," Wang Zhaoyao, director of the China Manned Space Agency, told a news conference in Beijing on the third anniversary of the Tiangong-1 mission.

"We will closely monitor the lab's condition and arrange experiments for it so that its lifespan can be extended for as long as possible."