China has sent its first woman into space on a mission to dock with an orbiting station, the latest step in an ambitious programme to go to the moon and on to Mars.

Photo: China's first female astronaut Liu Yang, waves during a sending off ceremony before she departs for the Shenzhou 9 spacecraft rocket launch pad at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Jiuquan, China, Saturday, June 16, 2012. China will send its first woman and two other astronauts into space Saturday to work on a temporary space station for about a week, in a key step toward becoming only the third nation to set up a permanent base in orbit. (Photo by Ng Han Guan/AP Photo)

After eight tense days, a female one horned rhinoceros was found and rescued from an area in India that has recently seen four other rhinos killed by poachers.

Photo: The rhino was finally located on Sunday in a field where it had taken shelter. Forest officials guarded the female one horned rhinoceros until it could be tranquilized and transported back to the Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary. (Photo by Anupam Nath/Associated Press)

A penitent called “Morion” checks his mobile phone in Mogpog town on Marinduque island in central Philippines April 14, 2014. During the annual festival, masked and costumed penitents called “Moriones” dress in attire that is the local interpretation of what Roman soldiers wore during biblical times. Holy Week is celebrated in many Christian traditions during the week before Easter. (Photo by Erik De Castro/Reuters)

LONDON - JUNE 04: A piece entitled “Entrance into wood” by Elke Krystufek goes on show at The Royal Academy Summer Exhibition on June 4, 2008 in London. In it's 240th year, the exhibition displays a wide range of recent work by both established and emerging artists. 10,000 artists submitted work for selection this year. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)

Mazda Motor introduces the company's concept vehicle, Taiki during the press day of the 40th Tokyo Motor Show at Makuhari Messe, on October 24, 2007 in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. (Photo by Koichi Kamoshida/Getty Images)

A woman sits next to a Gollum figure on the “Middle-earth Shuttle” subway train November 18, 2003 in New York City. The train's cars were decorated with Middle-earth creatures, vines, moss and stones to celebrate the November 18 DVD and VHS release of the Special Extended Edition of The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Captain George Ash lies on his back as he prepares to shoot the bowl from the clay pipe held between a blindfolded corporal's teeth. (Photo by Fox Photos/Getty Images). 18th April 1932

A polar bear fast asleep at London Zoo. (Photo by Fox Photos/Getty Images). 1961