While Shenzhou-series spacecraft still serve as a major pillar of China"s manned spaceflights, Chinese engineers are developing a next-generation vehicle to help to materialize the country"s future aspirations in space.

Once put into formal service, the new spacecraft, which has yet to be named, will feature world-class designs and technologies, high reliability and flexibility, reusability and multiple functions, according to designers at the China Academy of Space Technology, a major supplier of spacecraft in the nation.

The new craft will be tasked with serving the operation of China"s space station as well as the country"s manned lunar missions that are now in planning.

It will have two major parts－a reentry module, which will house astronauts and serve as the control center for the entire craft during a spaceflight, and a service module that will contain power and propulsion systems.

The craft will be nearly 9 meters long and 4.5 meters in diameter, and it will weigh 22 metric tons.