Second space lab, manned mission planned

China is assembling its second space laboratory and its latest manned spacecraft, and plans to send them into space in the second half of this year, according to the China Manned Space Agency.

The Tiangong 2 space lab is scheduled to be launched in the third quarter. The Shenzhou XI spacecraft, which will carry two astronauts, will be launched in the fourth quarter and will dock with Tiangong 2, the agency said on its website on Sunday.

Astronauts will stay in the space lab for several days to test its life support systems and carry out scientific experiments.