New Delhi, Nov.20 : The manned spacecraft Shenzhou VII is likely to be launched into space in October 2008, shortly after the conclusion of the Beijing Olympic Games.

The China Daily quoted Pang Zhihao, a researcher with the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST) as saying that three astronauts will be on this space trip.

 He also confirmed that there would be a live broadcast of the space walk.

Zhao said the first Chinese astronauts performing space walk would likely be roped with the spacecraft, for the considerations of safety, oxygen supply and communication connection.

China launched two manned spacecraft, Shenzhou V and Shenzhou VI, in 2003 and 2005, sending three astronauts into the space in the two missions.

China is now the third country, after the United States and Russia that is capable of sending astronauts into the space.

Currently, China has three launch centres in Gansu, Shanxi and Sichuan, all of them inland.

The construction of the Wenchang base is expected to finish by 2012. (ANI)