JIUQUAN, China — On Thursday, China advanced its ambitious space agenda as a trio of astronauts arrived at the Tiangong space station. Their arrival highlights the continuous progress China is making towards a future manned mission to the moon and a deep-space program aimed at exploring Mars.
The Shenzhou 20 spacecraft was propelled from Earth precisely at 5:17 p.m. local time (0917 GMT) aboard the dependable Long March 2F rocket. After about six and a half hours, it successfully docked with the Chinese space station, Tiangong, confirmed the China Manned Space Agency.
The liftoff took place at the launch center located in Jiuquan, on the fringe of the vast Gobi Desert in northwestern China. Following their mission in space, the spaceship will bring back the current trio of astronauts.
Termed “Heavenly Palace,” Tiangong is a significant symbol of China’s burgeoning stature in the cosmic arena, especially given its self-sufficient construction after being excluded from the International Space Station due to U.S. national security apprehensions. The Chinese space program falls under the jurisdiction of the People’s Liberation Army, the military wing of the Communist Party in power.
Equipping the three-module station with mechanical arms has led to some international anxiety. These arms spur concerns that they might be employed to compromise satellites or other spacecraft during crises.
China’s space journey has been one of consistent progress since it sent its first man into orbit in 2003, becoming the third nation to accomplish such a feat. The space agency’s achievements include placing a lander on Mars and navigating a rover on the moon’s far side, with plans to send a human to the moon before 2030.
Commanding the current Shenzhou 20 mission is veteran astronaut Chen Dong, marking his third expedition. Accompanying him are Chen Zhongrui, a fighter pilot, and engineer Wang Jie, both novices in space travel, the Manned Space Agency disclosed. Notably, this mission marks the first all-male crew for China.
These astronauts will take over from the existing three on the space station, with a stay slated to last approximately six months. This transition requires the departing crew, initially launched in October of the previous year, to complete their 175-day voyage with a return scheduled for April 29, following a brief overlap.
The Tiangong station, since its full assembly in October 2022, is equipped to host a maximum of six people simultaneously. During their mission, the astronauts are expected to conduct experiments advancing medical sciences and technology, as well as undertake spacewalks to maintain and upgrade the station, according to information from the Manned Space Agency.