China successfully launched its fifth manned spacecraft on Tuesday afternoon, announced Zhang Youxia, chief commander of China's manned space program.

Shenzhou-X, atop an upgraded Long March-2F carrier rocket, blasted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China at 5:38 p.m. Tuesday and then entered its designated orbit.

Three astronauts, two male and one female, are aboard the spacecraft.

[Photos/Xinhua]

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