BEIJING, Oct. 12 -- China today successfully launched its second manned spacecraft in two years, putting in orbit two astronauts, signalling another great leap forward in the communist giant's steady pursuit of becoming a space power, said Press Trust of India Wednesday.

The indigenously-made 'Shenzhou-6' lifted off without a hitch at 0900 hrs (0630 IST) carrying astronauts Colonel Fei Julong, 40 and Colonel Nie Haisheng, 41, both ace fighter pilots, on a five day mission.

The launch, telecast live for the first time, took place from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in northwest China's Gansu Province using a 'Long March II F' carrier rocket.

The duo were handpicked from 14 fighter pilots and had been in the running for China's first manned space launch in October 2003 which enabled China to became the third country after the United States and Russia to have the capability to undertake manned space missions.

Shenzhou-6 is expected to circle around the Earth for the next 119 hours, or nearly five days, before landing in the grasslands in north China's Inner Mongolia.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, who was present at the launch centre in the remote Gobi Desert city, said the achievement in the launch of 'Shenzhou-6' will be recorded in the country's glorious history and was a contribution to science and peace.

Beaming with pride, Wen congratulated the Chinese scientists and the Chinese People's Liberation Army for their achievements and stressed that China develops space technology purely for peaceful purposes.

"We launched Shenzhou-6 out of peaceful purpose," Wen, flanked by other Communist party Politburo members, said while indicating that China is willing to cooperate with other nations in the development of space science and technology. Chinese President and CPC General Secretary, Hu Jintao, Vice President Zeng Qinghong and others watched the launch from the newly-established Space Centre in Beijing.

The launch came just a day after the Communist Party wrapped up a key meeting to map out the economic development of China from 2006 to 2010.

Heavy snow fell at the launch site shortly before lift off but stopped at about the time the astronauts entered their craft, state television reported.

About 40 minutes after lift-off, the chief commander of China's manned space programme declared a successful launch of the country's second manned spacecraft Shenzhou-6 which is made of one lakh components.

Fei and Nie, who are in orbit about 350 km above the Earth reported to the ground that they were "feeling good" and everything was normal.