China space station module prepares to launch - in pictures

The Long March II-F rocket is transported to the launcher Photograph: AP

Workers prepare the Long March II-F carrier rocket, which will launch the Shenzhou-8 unmanned spacecraft in November to join the other craft Photograph: AP

A worker at the Jiuquan satellite launch centre runs checks before the launch Photograph: ChinaFotoPress/Getty Images

A worker at Jiuquan runs tests Photograph: ChinaFotoPress/Getty Images

Staff prepare for the launch of the Tiangong-1 spacecraft Photograph: ChinaFotoPress/Getty Images

Staff march to a department to inject fuel for the Long March II-F carrier rocket Photograph: Wang Jianmin/Xinhua Press/Corbis

Technicians at Jiuquan Photograph: Wang Jianmin/Xinhua Press/Corbis

Technicians work to inject oxidiser for the Long March II-F carrier rocket Photograph: Wang Jianmin/Xinhua Press/Corbis

People gather at a preview to look at the Long March II-F rocket, which will take the Tiangong-1 module into space Photograph: AFP/Getty Images

View of the rocket on a pad at the Jiuquan launch site Photograph: Imaginechina/Corbis

A security guard stands near the Long March II-F rocket carrying Tiangong-1 Photograph: Lintao Zhang/Getty Images