A mid-October launch date is emerging as the most likely for China to blast its first astronaut into space, according to reports in Chinese media. [CNN]

Stories on the China space program.

China's official news agency announces that it will launch its first manned space mission between 15 and 17 October. [BBC News]

"With its astronaut back home and healthy, the orbital capsule that made China's first manned space mission a success began its own physical examination Saturday -- an exhaustive part-by-part checkup to determine if everything worked according to plan." [Space.com]

"China plans to become the third nation to put people in space later this year, following the successful launch of an unmanned spacecraft earlier this week." [CNN]

"China's first manned spacecraft has successfully returned to the Earth with astronaut Yang Liwei in good health, according to Chinese news agency reports." [CNN]

Information on the manned space program, including pictures of the first Chinese man in space.