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China to Launch Shenzhou 18 Crewmembers to Tiangong Space Station
China is poised to send its latest group of astronauts to the Tiangong space station on April 25. The three-astronaut Shenzhou 18 mission is set to launch from China’s Jiuquan spaceport at 8:59 a.m. EDT (1259 GMT) atop a Long March 2F rocket. Viewers can watch the live coverage of the event on Space.com, streamed by Chinese broadcaster CCTV, starting at approximately 5:45 a.m. EDT (0945 GMT).
Roster and Mission Details
The crew for Shenzhou 18 was revealed just a day prior to liftoff, a customary practice in China. The team includes 43-year-old commander Ye Guangfu, a veteran of Shenzhou 13, along with rookie spaceflight pilots Li Cong, 34, and Li Guangsu, 36. Upon successful launch, the crew is expected to reach Tiangong within seven hours. The current occupants of the space station, the astronauts from Shenzhou 17, are nearing the end of their six-month mission.
Tiangong Space Station
The Tiangong space station is comprised of the Tianhe core module, launched in April 2021, as well as the Wentian and Mengtian laboratory modules, launched in 2022. Although Tiangong is only about 20% of the mass of the International Space Station, Chinese authorities have indicated plans to expand the station by adding more modules in the near future.
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