China begins production of next rocket

BEIJING, April 10 (UPI) -- Production of the rocket carrier for the launch of China's next spacecraft is under way.

The Shenzhou-7 launch is scheduled for 2008, Xinhua, the official government news agency, said.

Shenzhou-6 carried two astronauts on a five-day trip into space in October.

The second stage of China's space program begins with Shenzhou-7 and plans include space walks and a rendezvous in space.

China is the third country after the Soviet Union and the United States to have a manned space program, although astronauts from a number of countries have gone into space on U.S. and Russian vehicles.