China is set to launch its latest crewed mission, Shenzhou 18, to the Tiangong space station today, April 25. A Long March 2F rocket will carry the three-astronaut crew into orbit from China’s Jiuquan spaceport at 8:59 a.m. EDT (1259 GMT; 8:59 p.m. Beijing time).
The Shenzhou 18 mission, which will be the seventh crewed mission to Tiangong, will be led by commander Ye Guangfu, who previously flew on the Shenzhou 13 mission. Joining Guangfu are fellow astronaut Li Cong and spaceflight rookie Li Guangsu, both of whom are fighter pilots.
The launch of Shenzhou 18 will mark a significant milestone in China’s ambitious space program. The country aims to establish a permanent presence in space and eventually send humans to the moon. The T-shaped Tiangong space station is a crucial part of these plans. Tiangong is currently made up of three modules: the Tianhe core module, the Wentian laboratory module, and the Mengtian laboratory module. China plans to add more modules to the station in the future, which will eventually rival the size of the International Space Station.
The Shenzhou 18 crew will join the three astronauts currently residing on Tiangong during the Shenzhou 17 mission, who are nearing the end of their six-month stay. The two crews will work together to conduct scientific experiments and maintain the space station. Shenzhou 18 is expected to return to Earth in October 2023, completing a six-month mission.
To witness the launch of Shenzhou 18 live, tune in to Space.com, where coverage will begin at 5:45 a.m. EDT (0945 GMT). The event will be streamed live by Chinese broadcaster CCTV. Don’t miss this opportunity to watch history unfold as China takes another step forward in its quest to become a leading space power.
