China's Shenzhou-9 capsule returns safely to Earth

After a 13 day mission in space, the crew of the Shenzhou-9 space capsule have now returned home, successfully completing their mission.

The capsule, carrying the crew of China’s Shenzhou-9 spacecraft, has now successfully landed in China’s Inner Mongolia region. The success of this mission brings China a step closer to creating its own manned space station.

The video above from Chinese state television, shows live images of the capsule's safe landing in the grasslands of Inner Mongolia's Siziwang county... read more and watch video.

China launches 1st manned space flight, with woman astronaut

Three Chinese astronauts, including China's first female astronaut, blasted off in the Shenzhou-9 spacecraft today in the country's first manned space flight.

Launching the first manned space docking mission in China, and including the country's first ever woman astronaut, the Shenzhou-9 spacecraft launched successfully at 10:37 GMT from Jiuquan launch center in north-west Gansu province.

China has now moved one step closer to becoming the second nation in the world performing regular space flights... read more and watch video.