China goes into space

China will send its first woman and two other astronauts into space, becoming the third country to set up a permanent base in orbit.

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June 15, 2012

Chinese soldiers guard the perimeter of the Jiuquan space base, in north China's Gansu province on the eve of the launch of the Shenzhou-9 spacecraft. China said that a female astronaut will be among the three-person team on board the spacecraft on June 16 from the Jiuquan space base in the Gobi desert for the country's fourth manned space launch.

/ AFP/Getty Images

June 8, 2012

A flag flies near a rocket launch pad at the Jiuquan launch center in Jiuquan, China's northwest Gansu province.

/ AP

June 9, 2012

People watch the Long March-2F rocket carrying the Shenzhou-9 spacecraft, which moves to the launch pad at the Jiuquan launch center in Jiuquan, China. China will launch three astronauts on Saturday, June 16, to dock with an orbiting experimental module.

/ AP

June 12, 2012

Chinese astronauts from left, Liu Yang, Liu Wang, and Jing Haipeng, salute during a rehearsal at the launch platform for the Shenzhou-9 space craft at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China's Gansu province. China will launch the three astronauts to work on a temporary space station for about a week, in a key step toward becoming the only third nation to set up a permanent base in orbit.

/ AP

June 9, 2012

A man carries his son walks near the Long March-2F rocket carrying the Shenzhou-9 spacecraft, which moves to the launch pad at the Jiuquan launch center in Jiuquan.

/ AP

June 13, 2012

An astronaut's training and work suit is displayed to the media by Chinese and Hong Kong exhibition officials during a news conference in Hong Kong.

Laurent Fievet / AFP/Getty Images

June 15, 2012

Photographers take pictures of a model of the Shenzhou-9 manned spacecraft docking with the orbiting Tiangong-1 space lab module and three Chinese astronauts after a news conference at Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, in northwest China's Gansu province.

Jason Lee / Reuters

June 15, 2012

Liu Yang, China’s first female astronaut, and, from left, Jing Haipeng and Liu Wang wave to the media during a news conference at Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, in northwest China's Gansu province.

Jason Lee / Reuters

June 12, 2012

Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force fighter pilot Liu Yang, a mother of one, poses for an official photo at the Jiuquan space base. She will become the first Chinese woman to travel to space.

/ AFP/Getty Images

June 12, 2012

According to a Chinese space program spokesman, two of the astronauts will live and work inside the module to test its life-support systems while the third will remain in the capsule to deal with any unexpected emergencies.

/ AFP/Getty Images

June 15, 2012

A man uses his mobile phone to take a photo of astronaut Jing Haipeng speaking from behind a glass enclosure at a meet the press session at the Jiuquan satellite launch center near Jiuquan.

Ng Han Guan / AP

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Graduating students' with rain soaked mortar boards from a driving rain, listen as US President Barack Obama delivers the commencement address during a ceremony at Morehouse College on May 19, 2013 in Atlanta, Georgia. AFP PHOTO/Mandel NGANMANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images

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