On Thursday, China welcomed its latest crew of three astronauts to the Tiangong space station following a successful launch from the Jiuquan spaceport in the Gobi Desert. The Shenzhou-18 spacecraft achieved rendezvous and docking with Tiangong's radial docking port at 3:32 p.m. Eastern (1932 UTC) on April 25, as announced by China's human spaceflight agency.
The Shenzhou-18 crew includes commander Ye Guangfu and rookies Li Cong and Li Guangsu. They are expected to be greeted by the Shenzhou-17 crew - Tang Hongbo, Tang Shengjie, and Jiang Xinlin - who have been operating Tiangong since late October 2023. The Shenzhou-17 team will hand over control of the station to the incoming Shenzhou-18 astronauts before their return to Earth on April 30.
Shenzhou-18, China's seventh crewed mission to Tiangong and 13th human spaceflight mission overall, launched earlier on the same day. The mission is anticipated to last approximately six months, with resupply by the Tianzhou-8 spacecraft around August.
During their tenure, the crew is scheduled to conduct more than 90 experiments, engage in two to three extravehicular activities, and oversee six cargo outbound deliveries via the station's cargo airlock. China has aspirations to enhance Tiangong's capabilities by sending a multi-functional expansion module with six docking ports to accommodate international, tourist, and commercial visits without disrupting core operations.
China's human spaceflight agency expressed its intention to host international astronauts and is contemplating opening the station for tourist visits. The successful development and utilization of Tiangong underscore China's commitment to advancing space exploration and fostering international collaboration in the realm of space exploration.
Stay tuned for more updates as China continues to push the boundaries of human spaceflight!
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