China is set for another exciting chapter in its space exploration journey! The Shenzhou XVIII crewed spacecraft is scheduled to launch on Thursday, April 25th at 8:59 pm from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.
The crew will conduct an orbital handover with the current Shenzhou XVII crew
Aboard the Shenzhou XVIII will be a three-person crew: Ye Guangfu (mission commander), Li Cong, and Li Guangsu. This mission marks Li Cong and Li Guangsu’s first spaceflight, while Ye Guangfu previously served as a crew member on Shenzhou XIII.
The mission has two main objectives. First, the Shenzhou XVIII crew will conduct an orbital handover with the current Shenzhou XVII crew. Second, they will carry out various scientific experiments and missions during their six-month stay aboard the space station. Their return to Earth is planned for late October at the Dongfeng landing site.
China’s space ambitions extend beyond this mission. They have announced plans to ramp up research and open doors to foreign astronauts and even space tourists for future space station flights.
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(VIA)