New ship will track October spaceflight

Vessel's advanced system will monitor astronauts' journey

When the Shenzhou XI manned spacecraft starts its journey next month to meet the Tiangong II space lab, it will be tracked by China's latest space monitor and communications system aboard a new tracking ship.

The fourth-generation, shipborne space monitor and communications system, developed by China Electronics Technology Group Corp, a State-owned defense giant, is carried by the Yuanwang 7 space tracking ship and is the best of its kind in the world, said company designers.