China is planning to launch its second manned spacecraft, Shenzhou VI, carrying two to three astronauts, in the middle of next year, a senior official with the Shanghai aerospace authority said yesterday.

　　"The main construction of Shenzhou VI is approaching completion. Shanghai will continue to take charge of key missions for the country's aerospace development," Shanghai Bureau of Aerospace Director Xu Liangwei said early yesterday morning at a ceremony to celebrate the successful launch of China's first manned spacecraft.

　　More than 200 local aerospace scientists and family members of those who went to the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center joined yesterday's celebration.

　　"This success has greatly encouraged us to take bigger steps in the country's aerospace program," Xu said.

　　He said more than 100 of the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology's over 2,000 researchers were sent to the launch center for China's first manned spacecraft mission."Most of our researchers remain in the city for the next launch mission," Xu said.