China will launch a two-man space mission, Shenzhou 11, on Monday (local time), taking the country closer to its ambition of setting up a permanent manned space station by 2022.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for the nation to establish itself as a space power, and it has tested anti-satellite missiles, in addition to its civilian aims.
China says its space program is for peaceful purposes, but the US Defense Department has highlighted its increasing capabilities, saying it was pursuing activities aimed to prevent adversaries from using space-based assets in a crisis.
"The astronaut flight group is in good condition, prelaunch preparations are basically ready," space program official Wu Ping told reporters at a briefing on Sunday.
After Monday's launch at 7:30am, the astronauts will dock with the Tiangong 2 space laboratory, where they will spend about a month, testing systems and processes for space stays and refuelling, and doing scientific experiments.
China launched Tiangong 2, its second experimental space lab, last month.
Reuters
