WENCHANG, Hainan -- China plans to launch its new generation Long March-7 carrier rocket sometime from Saturday to Wednesday from a new launch ground in South China, said the manned space engineering office on Wednesday.

The rocket has been moved vertically to the launch pad after a three-hour transport from the test lab this morning, the office said in a press release.

The Long March-7, a medium-sized rocket using liquid propellant, can carry up to 13.5 tonnes to low Earth orbit. It will transport cargo for China's planned space station and is expected to become a main carrier for space launches.