Home > Media News > China sends astronauts to Chinese space station for six-month stay

China sends astronauts to Chinese space station for six-month stay
26 Apr, 2024 / 09:15 am / OMNES Media LLC

Source: http://www.reuters.com

359 Views

BEIJING (Reuters) - China on Thursday sent three astronauts to its permanently inhabited space station for a six-month stay, in a regular rotation of Chinese astronauts onboard the "Tiangong" orbiting high above the Earth's atmosphere.

The spacecraft Shenzhou-18, or "Divine Vessel", and its three passengers lifted off atop a Long March-2F rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in northwest China at 8:58 p.m. (1258 GMT), according to state media. 

Leading the six-month mission was 43-year-old Ye Guangfu, who last went to Tiangong, or "Heavenly Palace" in Chinese, in October 2021 in China's second crewed mission to the station.

Accompanying him this time were Li Cong, 34, and Li Guangsu, 36, both in space for the first time and hailing from the latest batch of astronauts on China's spaceflight programme. The three men were all former air force pilots.

Completed in late 2022, Tiangong can house a maximum of three astronauts for months at an orbital altitude of up to 450 km (280 miles). It has a designed operational lifespan of at least 15 years.

China has been launching two crewed missions to Tiangong per year since 2021 when construction of the outpost began, with the Shenzhou-18 being the seventh.

Each crew has stayed for around six months, conducting space walks as well as scientific experiments inside the station's low-gravity environment.

Tiangong has become an emblem of China's confidence in its space endeavours after being shut out of the NASA-led International Space Station for decades. China is banned by U.S. law from 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. Yang was the first Chinese national ever to reach space.

Related News

Recommended Articles

Kinza Hashmi dazzles in purple outfit

Blome upbeat about Pak-IMF talks, commends counterterrorism efforts

Punjab CM gives in principle approval to housing project

IHC declares keeping Bushra Bibi in solitary confinement a form of torture

IHC CJ convenes full court meeting to deliberate on judges' letter

Every child of Ummah wants to fight for Palestinians: JI

Latest News

Recommended News

China's Sinopec charts global expansion with refinery in rival India's backyard

Malala Yousafzai vows support for Gaza after backlash

Young Russians dance to K-pop and watch anime amid Asian culture boom

US military stage world's first ever AI controlled warplane

Latest Shows

Nuqta E Nazar

Peyam-E-Subh

Hasb-e-Haal

Dunya Kamran Khan Kay Sath

On The Front

Nuqta E Nazar

Peyam-E-Subh

Hasb-e-Haal

Dunya Kamran Khan Kay Sath

On The Front

Nuqta E Nazar

Must Watch

Govt wants more women in police department: Maryam Nawaz

Stock market gains 310 points

PMD predicts rain in most parts of country

US again warns Pakistan against trade pacts with Iran

Punjab CM gives in principle approval to housing project

PDMA predicts gusty wind, rain in parts of Punjab

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi lauds Pakistan's stance on war-torn Gaza

Weather turns pleasant as Lahore receives light rain

COAS Asim Munir, Iran President Raisi discuss regional peace, border security

Pakistan, Iran sign agreements to take trade volume to $10bn

Download Dunya App

Dunya News

English

Urdu

Programs

videos

Video Headlines

Coronavirus

PSL 7

Newspaper

Follow Us

Links

Blogs

الیکشن 2024 عوامی رائے

کون سی جماعت الیکشن 2024 میں اکثریت حاصل کرے گی ؟

 

Tags