His spokesman said Annan "hopes for the safe and successful completion of this maiden voyage," after China earlier launched its Shenzhou V craft and joined Russia and the United States as the only nations to send a human being into space.

"The Secretary General extends his warm congratulations to the People's Republic of China on its first mission into space," spokesman Fred Eckhard said.

"The exploration of space knows no national borders, the mission of the Shenzhou V is a step forward for all humankind," he said.

SPACE.WIRE