China successfully launched a three-member crew to its orbiting space station on Thursday as part of its ambitious space program. The Shenzhou-18 spacecraft lifted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China atop a Long March 2-F rocket at 8:59 p.m. (1259 GMT).
The crew of Shenzhou-18 will relieve the Shenzhou-17 team currently stationed at China's Tiangong space station since last October. The crew consists of Commander Ye Guangfu, a veteran astronaut, and fighter pilots Li Cong and Li Guangsu, who are spaceflight rookies.
The crew is expected to reach the space station approximately six-and-a-half hours after liftoff. During their six-month stay, they will conduct scientific tests, install space debris protection equipment, carry out payload experiments, and engage in science education activities.
China's space station was built independently after being excluded from the International Space Station. The country plans two cargo spacecraft missions and two manned spaceflight missions to the station this year.
China aims to offer access to its space station to foreign astronauts and space tourists in the future. The country is also planning Mars sample return missions around 2030, three lunar probe missions in the next four years, and aims to put astronauts on the moon by 2030.
China conducted its first crewed space mission in 2003, becoming the third country to achieve this feat. While the U.S. space program is considered to have an edge over China in terms of spending and capabilities, China has made significant advancements in space exploration, including bringing back lunar samples and landing a rover on the far side of the moon.
The U.S. plans to return crewed missions to the lunar surface by the end of 2025 with the help of private sector players like SpaceX and Blue Origin.
