Results for: Shenzhou 18

China’s Shenzhou-18 spacecraft has successfully lifted off, carrying three astronauts on a six-month-long mission to the Tiangong space station. The crew will conduct scientific experiments, spacewalks, and routine maintenance tasks while in orbit. This launch comes as China continues to make strides in its crewed lunar program, with plans to send astronauts to the moon before the end of the decade. Meanwhile, the United States is facing delays with its own Artemis III mission to return astronauts to the lunar surface.

Today, China will embark on its latest astronaut mission, Shenzhou 18, with three crewmembers heading to the Tiangong space station. The launch is scheduled for 8:59 a.m. EDT (1259 GMT; 8:59 p.m. Beijing time) on April 25 from China’s Jiuquan spaceport atop a Long March 2F rocket. Witness the historic event live on Space.com, courtesy of Chinese broadcaster CCTV, with coverage beginning at approximately 5:45 a.m. EDT (0945 GMT).

The Shenzhou 18 crew, consisting of commander Ye Guangfu, fellow astronaut Li Cong, and spaceflight rookie Li Guangsu, will join the three astronauts currently residing on Tiangong during the Shenzhou 17 mission, who are nearing the end of their six-month stay.

China’s Shenzhou-18 crewed spaceship successfully launched three astronauts to the Tiangong space station, marking the country’s 13th crewed mission to space. Led by Ye Guangfu, the crew will conduct various scientific experiments, spacewalks, and other tasks aboard the station.

China’s ambitious space program continues as the country prepares to launch the Shenzhou-18 crew into low-Earth orbit on Thursday. The three-member crew, led by veteran astronaut Ye Guangfu, will spend about six months on the Tiangong space station conducting scientific tests, installing equipment, and carrying out payload experiments. China’s space agency aims to eventually offer access to its space station to foreign astronauts and space tourists. This year, the Tiangong space station will see two additional manned spaceflight missions and two cargo spacecraft missions.

China is gearing up for the Shenzhou-18 crewed mission, a significant step toward its ambitious goal of lunar exploration by 2030. The three-member crew, led by veteran astronaut Ye Guangfu, will launch into low-Earth orbit on Thursday, taking over from the Shenzhou-17 team currently residing on the Tiangong space station. During their six-month stay, they will conduct scientific experiments, add debris protection equipment, and facilitate education initiatives. Additionally, China announced plans to open its space station to foreign astronauts and space tourists in the future.