The second China's space mission planned for Oct. 13

China's second manned space mission, and its first to carry two astronauts, is due to launch on Oct. 13, weather permitting, and return five days later, a state media report said.

The launch of Shenzhou VI is scheduled for 11 a.m. at Jiuquan Satellite Launch Base, in the Gobi desert in northern China, with the mission lasting 119 hours if all goes according to plan, the state-run China News Service reported on Sunday.

It said midday was chosen as the launch time to improve safety and allow launch personnel enough time for final preparations, unlike some past unmanned missions that pushed off in the night and pre-dawn hours.

China's first manned space flight in October 2003 made it the third country able to launch a human into space on its own, after Russia and the United States, informs the AP.