China to launch unmanned space mission next month: China to launch Shenzhou VIII early November. The Shenzhou VIII spacecraft is assembled with the Long-March II-F rocket at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Northwest China's Gansu province on Oct 23, 2011. The unmanned Shenzhou VIII, part of China's first spacecraft rendezvous and docking mission, was reported to be launched in early November.