Photo taken on June 13, 2013 shows the screen at the Beijing Aerospace Control Center depicting the three astronauts entering Tiangong-1 one by one in a floating state. [Photo/Xinhua]

Photo taken on June 13, 2013 shows the screen at the Beijing Aerospace Control Center capturing Nie Haisheng, one of the three astronauts, trying to be connected to the ground staff in Tiangong-1. [Photo/Xinhua]

Space dream on course after launch

China is pursuing its space dream unswervingly, President Xi Jinping said following the successful launch of the Shenzhou X spacecraft on Tuesday.

The Long March 2F carrier rocket with three astronauts — commander Nie Haisheng, astronaut Zhang Xiaoguang and the second Chinese woman in space Wang Yaping — blasted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Gansu province at 5:38 pm on Tuesday.

Astronauts send Dragon Boat Festival greetings

Three astronauts aboard the Shenzhou X spacecraft, which was launched into space on Tuesday, gave Dragon Boat Festival greetings to all Chinese on Wednesday.

This year's festival, which falls on June 12, is the second Dragon Boat Festival to be celebrated by Chinese astronauts in space.