China Unveils Shenzhou-20 Mission to Its Space Station, Reports Say

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A Long March-8 rocket, which is carrying the Queqiao-2 relay satellite for Earth-Moon communications, launches from the Wenchang Space Launch Center in Hainan province, China on March 20, 2024. — Reuters.

BEIJING: On Thursday, China successfully launched three astronauts to its continuously inhabited space station. This marked the 15th crewed mission in the Shenzhou program, which began over 30 years ago, and the 20th overall flight.

The Shenzhou-20 spacecraft, carrying the astronaut crew, lifted off atop a Long March-2F rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China at 5:17 PM local time (09:17 GMT), as reported by state broadcaster CCTV.

State-run news agency Xinhua quickly confirmed that the launch was a success.

This launch highlights China’s growing influence in lunar and space exploration, attracting interest from various nations.

Pakistan has launched a preliminary selection process for its own astronauts, with plans for one to eventually travel to space aboard a future Shenzhou mission, making history as the first foreign astronaut to reach China’s Tiangong space station.