China prepares to send first crew to its space station

Chinese astronauts (from left) Tang Hongbo, Nie Haisheng, and Liu Boming wave at a press conference ahead of the launch (Ng Han Guan/AP)

China is set to send the first three crew members to its new space station on Thursday morning.

Two of the astronauts flew in previous missions while the third is going to space for the first time, China Manned Space Agency Assistant Director Ji Qiming told reporters at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in northwestern China on Wednesday.