NEW : China launches China Three spaceship from base in the Gobi Desert . 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 . Three astronauts sent into space for China 's first and longest crewed mission . Mission seeks to test technology related to constructing a space station . Shenzhou 's march into space underscores growing financial and military clout .
NEW : China launches China Three spaceship from base in the Gobi Desert . Three astronauts sent into space for China 's first and longest crewed mission . Mission seeks to test technology related to constructing a space station . Shenzhou 's march into space underscores growing financial and military clout .