October at Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. It will be carried by the Long March- 2F carrier rocket, which is set to complete its third manned space mission this year and its seventh mission overall.

Astronauts

The mission of Shenzhou 7 is aimed at mastering two key technologies necessary for setting up a space laboratory or station, where spacecraft can dock and perform extra-vehicular activities, according to reports.

Picture demonstrating how different elements of the Shenzhou 7 space walk will interact

Shenzhou 7 will launch with a crew of three astronauts. Shortly before the space walk, two of these men will enter the orbital module at the front of the spacecraft. The hatch linking the orbital module to the descent module, containing the third astronaut, will be sealed soon after the crew splits in two.

The orbital module will house the extra-vehicular activity (EVA) suits during the flight, and the two astronauts will spend a considerable amount of time checking the suits before they don them. Next, there will be more checks once the astronauts are inside their suits.

The air pressure inside the orbital module will be gradually reduced to a vacuum, and the large circular outer hatch on the side of the orbital module will then be swung inward. One astronaut will then carefully step outside the module, clutching handrails on the outside of the spacecraft, to become China's first space walker.