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

Access arms are retracted away from the top of the 191-foot-tall Long March 2F rocket.

With eight liquid-fueled engines firing, the Long March 2F rocket lifts off from the launch pad.

Liftoff occurred from the Jiuquan launching base in northwestern China's Inner Mongolia province. It was 5:58 a.m. local time Tuesday in Beijing.

The rocket clears the launch pad tower.

The Long March 2F rocket consumes hydrazine and nitrogen tetroxide propellants.
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