Photos: Long March soars with Shenzhou 8 capsule

Launching an unmanned Shenzhou spaceship, a Long March 2F rocket blasted off at 2158 GMT (5:58 p.m. EDT) Monday from the Jiuquan space center in northwestern China. The Shenzhou 8 capsule will conduct the first automated in the history of China's space program, laying the groundwork for the construction of a mini-space station for future astronaut visits.

Photo credit: CCTV/Spaceflight Now

A camera on-board the Long March rocket shows the launcher flying into the night.

Four strap-on boosters fall away from the rocket in this view captured via an infrared camera.

An on-board camera shows the rocket's second stage vernier and main engine firing to accelerate toward orbital velocity.

The Shenzhou 8 spacecraft's solar panels unfurl just after separation from the rocket.

A view inside the Shenzhou capsule's crew module. This flight is without astronauts.

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