The rockets expected to carry China's second orbiting space lab Tiangong-2 and the Shenzhou-11 manned spacecraft into space have been delivered to Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China.

A statement issued by the Manned Space Engineering Office said that the center is where the assembly and tests of the rockets, which belong to the Long March-2F rocket series, will be carried out.

The rockets were sent from Beijing on August 3 by rail.

Compared with their predecessors, the two rockets feature technical improvements to improve their safety and reliability, according to China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology.

Tiangong-2 is scheduled to launch in mid-September, and Shenzhou-11, which will carry two astronauts to dock with Tiangong-2, will be sent into space in mid-October.

(Xinhua News Agency August 6, 2016)