China Launches Three Astronauts on Six-Month Mission to Tiangong Space Station
A Chinese spacecraft carrying three astronauts successfully launched from a remote site in northwest China on Thursday, marking another significant step in Beijing’s expanding space ambitions.
The mission, dubbed Shenzhou-20, is part of China’s growing investment in space exploration—a national priority backed by billions in funding as the country aims to fulfill President Xi Jinping’s vision of achieving the “space dream” for the Chinese people.
With goals of sending humans to the Moon before 2030 and establishing a lunar base in the future, Thursday’s liftoff underscores China’s commitment to becoming a major player in space.
The crew lifted off aboard a Long March-2F rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, surrounded by smoke and fire, witnessed by AFP reporters on site. The mission will last six months aboard the Tiangong space station.
Leading the crew is 46-year-old Chen Dong, a seasoned astronaut and former fighter pilot with more than 200 days spent in orbit. He is joined by Chen Zhongrui, 40, a former air force pilot, and Wang Jie, 35, a former aerospace engineer—both making their first journey to space.
The launch drew large crowds at the base, with people waving Chinese flags and shouting encouragements as the astronauts departed to patriotic music and cheers of “We wish you success!”
State TV broadcasted live footage of the crew heading toward the launchpad, passing through vast desert terrain.
While on board Tiangong, the team will perform scientific research in life sciences and physics, carry out station maintenance, conduct spacewalks, and install new safety features to guard against space debris. A notable addition to their experiments includes planarians, flatworms known for their regenerative capabilities.
The current crew on Tiangong will return to Earth on April 29 after transferring responsibilities to the new team.
Spectators and space fans gathered hours before the event, some purchasing souvenirs and mini rockets from roadside stands, eager to witness the launch firsthand.
The Tiangong station—meaning “heavenly palace”—is a cornerstone of China’s independent space efforts. It orbits Earth with a rotating crew of three astronauts every six months and reflects China’s rising status in space exploration, especially after being excluded from the International Space Station since 2011 due to U.S. restrictions.
China is now opening its space station to international collaboration. In February, it signed an agreement with its close ally Pakistan to send the first non-Chinese astronaut to Tiangong. According to the China Manned Space Agency, two Pakistani astronauts will soon travel to China for training.
