Shenxhou-18 Launch Live: China Launches Shenzhou-18 Mission At Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center| N18L
China launches the Shenzhou-18 mission at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, carrying three astronauts to Chinese Space Station, marking more than two decades of Chinese human spaceflight.
The Shenzhou-18 crewed spaceship will be launched at 8:59 p.m. Beijing Time on Thursday from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) announced on Wednesday.
Chinese astronauts Ye Guangfu, Li Cong and Li Guangsu will carry out the Shenzhou-18 manned spaceflight mission to China's space station, and Ye will be the commander.
Ye was also the crew member of China's Shenzhou-13 mission. Both Li Cong and Li Guangsu are part of the country's third-batch taikonauts, and the Shenzhou-18 mission will be their first flight mission.
They are scheduled to stay in orbit for about six months and return to the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in late October.
During their stay in orbit, the Shenzhou-18 crew will receive the Tianzhou-8 cargo ship and the Shenzhou-19 crewed spaceship.
The Shenzhou-17 trio, who are currently working at the space station, will meet with the Shenzhou-18 crew before returning to the Dongfeng landing site on April 30.
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