China today launched its fifth manned spacecraft, carrying three astronauts including a woman, on a 15-day mission to dock with a space lab.

Shenzhou-10 spacecraft was blasted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on a Long March rocket, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

Shenzhou-10 is China's fifth manned space mission.

Wang Yaping, 35, the second Chinese woman to go into space after Liu Yang last year, was onboard while the mission is being commanded by Nie Haisheng. Zhang Xiaoguang is the other crew member.

Earlier, Chinese President Xi Jinping attended a see-off ceremony for the three astronauts.

What they gain from such mission in space ?
Wastage of money or they are preparing for something big ?