Hong Kong ( CNN ) -- A Chinese spaceship blasted off Tuesday from a launch center in the Gobi Desert , carrying three astronauts on what is expected to be the Asian giant 's longest crewed mission yet . Propelled by a Long March-2F rocket , the Shenzhou 10 craft is scheduled to dock with the Tiangong-1 space module where the crew will transfer supplies to the space lab , which has been in orbit since September 2011 . China has stepped up the pace of its space program since first sending astronaut Yang Liwei into orbit in 2003 . In 2012 , it conducted 18 space launches , according to the Pentagon . Tuesday 's launch from the the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center marks the start of China 's fifth crewed space mission . Footage broadcast by state broadcaster CCTV showed the craft lift off from the Gobi 's flat expanse and arrow into the empty blue sky . Officials at the launch center looked on as it gained altitude , gradually shedding stages of the rocket . During its 15 days in orbit , the crew will master the rendezvous and docking capabilities that are essential for the operation of a manned space platform . `` The functionality , performance , and coordination of all systems will be evaluated during this mission , '' Wu Ping , a spokesperson for China 's Manned Space Program , told a news conference on Monday ahead of the launch . She added that another main objective of the mission was to test technologies related to the construction of a space station as China seeks to establish a long-term human presence in space . The most recent crewed mission last year carried its first female astronaut and was the first to make a manual docking with the space module . The crew for this mission will also include a woman , Wang Yaping , and two male astronauts , Nie Haisheng and Zhang Xiaoguang . `` These longer duration missions and space dockings are essential practice for any kind of long-term , more permanent presence in space or a mission to , say , the moon , '' said Dean Cheng , a research fellow at the Washington-based Heritage Foundation . Growing power . China 's march into space underscores the country 's growing financial and military clout and has unsettled some Western observers . A 92-page report on Chinese military development released by the Pentagon last month highlighted the advances in China 's space capabilities . `` China is developing a multi-dimensional program to improve its capabilities to limit or prevent the use of space-based assets by adversaries during times of crisis or conflict , '' the report said . A spokeswoman for China 's manned space missions said last year the program would cost a total of almost 40 billion yuan ( US $ 6.27 billion ) . The U.S. closed its space shuttle program in 2011 and is no longer aggressively pursuing manned space exploration , leaving Russia and China as the only two countries in the world capable of independently sending humans into space . `` In some ways , they have overtaken the US , at least temporarily , '' says the Heritage Foundation 's Cheng . `` Of course , the US , and even more Russia , have more experience in manned space . China is not , at this time , capable of reaching the Moon . '' `` But like the tortoise and the hare , China is slowly catching up with the US . '' However , Cheng says that China is not engaged in a space race with the US . Rather : `` They have a long-term plan , and they are sticking to it . '' Private space ambitions . Companies like Boeing , Space X and Virgin Galactic are scrambling to develop private sector spacecraft and operate in what has previously been the exclusive preserve of sovereign nations . China is not part of the project that maintains the International Space Station ( ISS ) , which currently orbits the Earth conducting experiments in a range of fields , from physics to astronomy . The ISS is a joint venture between NASA , Russia 's RKA space agency , Japan 's Aerospace Exploration Agency , the European Space Agency and the Canadian CSA . China views its multi-billion dollar space program as a way to raise prestige both domestically and abroad . This is the first high-profile space launch since new leader Xi Jinping assumed the presidency in March . Public reaction to the planned mission was mixed , with some users of the Twitter-like Weibo platform wishing the astronauts well , while others said the resources were best used on the ground . `` Our country may be lagging behind in other areas , but China has great achievement in aerospace technology , '' said one user with the handle @ Jiniaobieliulin . `` The government should spend more money to help those of lowest social status , '' said another user identified as @ Xiaoxiaojuna . Journalist Katie Hunt wrote and reported from Hong Kong , and CNN 's Zhang Dayu reported from Beijing . CNN 's Jethro Mullen in Hong Kong contributed to this report .
This is China 's fifth crewed space mission and is scheduled to March . It is the fifth high-profile launch since Cheng became president in last 15 days . The mission seeks to test technology related to constructing a space station . Jiniaobieliulin 's march into space underscores its growing financial and military clout .