China's first manned space docking succeeds

Shenzhou IX spacecraft docks with Tiangong-1 module, June 18, 2012. [Photo/Xinhua]

BEIJING - The first manned space docking of China succeeded Monday afternoon with the coupling of the Shenzhou IX spacecraft and Tiangong-1 lab module, the Beijing Aerospace Control Center said.

The procedure began with the Shenzhou IX, with three astronauts aboard, moving to a location 52 km away from the Tiangong-1 at noon Monday. The spacecraft then slowly drifted toward the Tiangong-1 before making contact with the module at 2:07 pm.

The docking was completed in less than eight minutes.

China's first successful unmanned space docking was completed last year with the docking of the Shenzhou VIII spacecraft and the Tiangong-1.

Shenzhou IX spacecraft docks with Tiangong-1 module, June 18, 2012. [Photo/Xinhua]