China launched three astronauts to its continuously inhabited space station on Thursday for a six-month mission, as part of the regular rotation of Chinese astronauts aboard the "Tiangong" orbiting high above Earth's atmosphere.
The spacecraft Shenzhou-18, also known as the "Divine Vessel," carried its three passengers into space atop a Long March-2F rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in northwest China at 8:58 p.m. (1258 GMT), as reported by state media.
Heading the six-month mission is 43-year-old Ye Guangfu, who previously visited Tiangong, or "Heavenly Palace," in October 2021 during China's second crewed mission to the station.
Joining him this time are Li Cong, 34, and Li Guangsu, 36, both on their first spaceflight and part of the latest group of astronauts in China's spaceflight program. All three men are former air force pilots.
Tiangong, completed in late 2022, can accommodate up to three astronauts for months at an orbital altitude of up to 450 km (280 miles). It is designed to remain operational for at least 15 years.
China has been conducting two crewed missions to Tiangong per year since 2021, when construction of the outpost began, with Shenzhou-18 being the seventh. Each crew typically stays for around six months, performing spacewalks and scientific experiments within the station's low-gravity environment.
Tiangong symbolizes China's confidence in its space endeavors after being excluded from the NASA-led International Space Station for decades due to a ban imposed by U.S. law on any collaboration, direct or indirect, with NASA.
Shenzhou-18 marks China's 13th crewed mission to space since Yang Liwei's solo spaceflight in October 2003, making Yang the first Chinese national to ever reach space.
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