Chinese astronauts blast off to space station as construction enters high gear

Chinese astronauts Cai Xuzhe (L), Chen Dong (C) and Liu Yang pose during a ceremony prior to the launch at the Shenzhou-14 mission at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Northwest China’s Gansu Province on June 5, 2022. China on June 5 launched a rocket carrying three astronauts on a mission to complete construction on its new space station, the latest milestone in Beijing's drive to become a major space power. - AFP

* Chinese space station expected to be built by end-2022

* Shenzhou-14 astronauts to oversee arrival of final two modules