China launches Shenzhou-20 mission to Chinese space station

Spacecraft lifted off atop Long March-2F rocket from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in northwest China

By Agencies

April 25, 2025

This representative image shows a Long March-2F rocket carrying the Shenzhou-19 spacecraft sits at the launch pad before taking off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center for a crewed mission to Chinas Tiangong space station, near Jiuquan, Gansu province, China October 30, 2024. — Reuters — This representative image shows a Long March-2F rocket carrying the Shenzhou-19 spacecraft sits at the launch pad before taking off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center for a crewed mission to China's Tiangong space station, near Jiuquan, Gansu province, China October 30, 2024. — Reuters

BEIJING: China sent three astronauts to its permanently inhabited space station on Thursday, in its 15th crewed spaceflight and the 20th overall in the Shenzhou program that started over three decades ago.

The spacecraft Shenzhou-20 and the crew lifted off atop a Long March-2F rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in northwest China at 5:17pm (0917 GMT), according to state broadcaster CCTV.

State news agency Xinhua reported soon afterwards that the launch was successful.

The launch comes as China’s advances in lunar and space exploration are drawing in more countries. Pakistan is carrying out a preliminary selection of astronauts, one of whom will eventually be sent to space on a future Shenzhou spaceflight and become the first foreign astronaut to enter China’s Tiangong space station.