The Shenzhou VII spacecraft is set to launch in October. The mission will include the first spacewalk by a Chinese astronaut.

(A virtual image of an astronaut spacewalking outside the Shenzhou VII spaceship.)

The spacewalk mission is crucial for China to establish a space laboratory or station. No exact date has been given. A crew of six astronauts have been chosen for the mission, with three manning the spacecraft and three substitutes.

The Shenzhou VII will be launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the northwestern province of Gansu. China sent its first astronaut, Yang Liwei, into space five years ago.

(CCTV June 13, 2008)