#Space docking mission between Shenzhou-8, Tiangong-1

The Shenzhou-8 unmanned spacecraft is seen after successfully disengaging from the Tiangong-1 space lab module on Nov. 14, 2011, in a picture taken by Tiangong-1 and displayed on a screen of the mission's control center in Beijing. [Photo/Xinhua]

Launched on Nov. 1, 2011, the Shenzhou-8 spaceship rendezvoused and docked with the target space lab module of Tiangong-1 on Nov. 3. After a 12-day flight together, the unmanned spacecraft disengaged from Tiangong-1 before re-docking with it, completing the second space.

The success marked a major breakthrough in the country's space docking technology.