China will launch its second manned space flight at 11:00 am (03:00 GMT) on October 13, AFP has reported .

Technicians make final examinations and tests of China's second manned spaceship Shenzhou VI at Jiuquan satellite launch center in Gansu Province.

"We expect (to launch the flight) on October 13 if weather permits," said Jiang Jingshan, a member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering who was involved in the first flight.

The launch date for Shenzhou VI could change according to weather conditions. Two astronauts have been selected to orbit Earth for five days, expanding on the 21-hour flight of Shenzhou V which circled Earth 14 times in 2003.