Launch delays 'will not affect Shenzhou blast off'

JIUQUAN, Gansu - The unmanned Shenzhou VIII, part of China's first spacecraft rendezvous and docking mission, will be launched in early November.

Niu Hongguang, deputy commander-in-chief of the program, said on Tuesday the launch has not been affected by the postponed lift-off of the Tiangong-1 space module.

Tiangong-1 was to enter a low orbit around Earth at the end of August before being met by Shenzhou VIII. However, the departure was pushed back after a satellite failure on Aug 18.