Hong Kong ( CNN ) -- China has launched three astronauts into orbit for the country 's fifth and longest crewed mission in its burgeoning space exploration program . The Shenzhou 10 spaceship and its launcher , a Long March-2F rocket , blasted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi Desert on Tuesday . It will dock with the Tiangong-1 space module and the crew will transfer supplies to the space lab , which has been in orbit since September 2011 . During the 15-day mission , 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 . Humans in space . 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 . 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 . The most recent manned 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 . Timeline : China 's race into space . 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 . Katie Hunt wrote and reported from Hong Kong . Zhang Dayu reported from Beijing .
NEW : China launches Shenzhou 10 spaceship from base in Gobi Desert . Three astronauts sent into space for China 's fifth and longest crewed mission . Mission seeks to test technology related to constructing a space station . China 's march into space underscores growing financial and military clout .