China launches Shenzhou-18 crew to Tiangong Space Station

Beijing, 27 April 2024, (TDI): China’s next space mission, Shenzhou 18, will be launched to the Tiangong space station on April 25, 2024. The mission, featuring three astronauts, was set to lift off from China’s Jiuquan spaceport at 8:59 a.m. EDT (1259 GMT).

Additionally, viewers watched the launch live on Space.com, courtesy of Chinese broadcaster CCTV, starting around 5:45 a.m. EDT (0945 GMT).

On April 26, China revealed the astronaut lineup for Shenzhou 18, a day before liftoff, following its customary practice. The crew included 43-year-old commander Ye Guangfu and rookie spaceflight pilots Li Cong, 34, and Li Guangsu, 36.

As everything proceeded as planned, the group reached Tiangong around seven hours following the 25 April launch. The outpost already had three astronauts from the Shenzhou 17 mission stationed there. They were the ones who were nearing the end of their six-month orbital assignment.

The three components that make up the T-shaped Tiangong are the Wentian and Mengtian laboratory modules, which debuted in 2022, and the Tianhe core module, which debuted in April 2021, and is a key part of China’s space ambitions.

Moreover, The three-member crew launched to China’s orbiting space station from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. The Shenzhou-18 spacecraft, propelled by a Long March 2-F rocket, lifted off at 8:59 p.m. (1259 GMT).

The crew will relieve the Shenzhou-17 team, stationed at China’s Tiangong space station since last October. Moreover, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) conducted a send-off ceremony earlier, celebrating the astronauts’ departure.

In addition to this, it was Commander Ye Guangfu, along with fighter pilots Li Cong and Li Guangsu, who made up the crew. Their journey was to take approximately six-and-a-half hours to reach the space station.

China’s space program is advancing rapidly, with plans for two cargo spacecraft missions and two manned spaceflight missions this year.