Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
End of dialog window.
China is gearing up to launch its Shenzhou-20 crewed mission to the China Space Station on April 24 at 5:17 p.m., departing from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) announced on Wednesday.
Once in orbit, the Shenzhou-20 spacecraft will dock automatically with the Tianhe core module approximately 6.5 hours after launch, joining three spacecraft and three modules to form a larger combination in space.
This mission marks the fifth crewed flight during the application and development phase of the China Space Station and the 35th flight of China’s crewed space program. The primary objectives include conducting an in-orbit crew rotation with the Shenzhou-19 crew, spending about six months aboard the space station, performing space science experiments, and carrying out spacewalks and cargo transfers.
Meet the Crew
The Shenzhou-20 mission will be carried out by astronauts Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui, and Wang Jie.
Chen Dong, who previously participated in the Shenzhou-11 and Shenzhou-14 missions, returns to space as the mission commander. Two years after his last mission, he’s ready to lead once again.
Chen Zhongrui and Wang Jie are making their spaceflight debut. Chen Zhongrui was an air force pilot before becoming an astronaut, while Wang Jie served as an engineer at the China Academy of Space Technology.
Exciting Experiments Ahead
The crew will undertake 59 experiments and technical demonstrations in areas like space life sciences, microgravity physical sciences, and new space technologies. Notably, they will conduct new life science experiments involving zebrafish, planarians, and streptomyces.
Looking to the Future
During their stay, the Shenzhou-20 crew will receive the Tianzhou-9 cargo spacecraft and the Shenzhou-21 crewed spacecraft. They are scheduled to return to Earth in late October.
Meanwhile, the Shenzhou-19 astronauts are set to return to the Dongfeng landing site on April 29 after completing the crew rotation.
Opening Space to More Visitors
The CMSA also announced plans to welcome new visitors to the China Space Station. The first astronauts from Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions, selected as payload specialists, are expected to make their inaugural spaceflight as early as 2026.
In addition, two Pakistani astronauts will be selected for spaceflight training in China, with one potentially participating in a joint space mission as a payload specialist.
