China’s spacecraft, Shenzhou-8 and Tiangong-1, are in the preparation stage for their second docking. They are set to come together again in about a week’s time.

Unlike the first docking, this one is likely to occur in harsh conditions to test the design and capabilities of the two modules. Shenzhou-8 and Tiangong-1 have flown together now for more than a hundred hours in space.

With the mission running smoothly so far, there will be another two days’ flight after the second docking. The unmanned Shenzhou-8 is scheduled to return to Earth on November 17th.