Full coverage: China Tiangong-2 Space Lab Launch

Scientists at Jiuquan Satellite Launch center in Northwest China are making final preparations before launching China’s second space laboratory—the Tiangong-Two—into outer-space later this month.

The state of the art space lab is scheduled to enter orbit between September 15 and 20. Experts say the lab marks an important stepping stone for China, as the country works toward building a fully functional space station.

Engineers transferred the Tiangong-Two and its carrier rocket to the Jiuquan Launch Center on Friday, and ground control inspected the Long March rockets that will take the lab into outerspace.