Full coverage: China Tiangong-2 Space Lab Launch

Like its predecessor, Tiangong-2 will also be sent into space with the Long March-2F rocket. We take a look at how long this trip takes, and what happens between lift-off and the final destination.

It takes the rocket 585 seconds to send the space lab into orbit.

At 12 seconds after launch, the rocket will have a programmed turn and fly along Earth's axis to save fuel.

At 155 seconds, four boosters will detach from the main rocket after running out of fuel.

At 160 seconds, the first-stage rocket will detach and the second-stage motor fires up.

At 210 seconds, it will carry Tiangong-2 into space.

And at 582 seconds, the motor will stop working and detach three seconds later. Its mission is accomplished.