China sends 3 astronauts to complete space station

CHINA today launched a rocket carrying three astronauts on a mission to complete construction of its new space station, the latest step in Beijing’s drive to become a major space power.

The trio blasted off in a Long March-2F rocket at (0244 GMT) from Jiuquan Launch Center in the Gobi Desert in northwest China, state broadcaster CCTV said, the team to spend six months expanding the Tiangong space station.