China prepares to launch new crewed space mission to Tiangong station

Saturday 16 May 2026 - 16:30

China is preparing to launch a new crewed space mission in the coming days, marking another step in its expanding space exploration program.

According to the China Manned Space Agency, the Shenzhou-23 spacecraft, carried by a Long March 2F rocket, has been moved to the launch tower at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi Desert in northwestern China. The mission will undergo final system checks before liftoff, which is expected soon.

The mission will send three astronauts to the Tiangong space station, continuing China’s long-term efforts in developing and maintaining a permanent human presence in orbit. This will be the country’s 17th crewed spaceflight and will form the 11th rotating team aboard Tiangong.

The Tiangong space station, completed between 2021 and 2022, consists of three interconnected modules and is currently operated independently by China. It remains one of the most significant achievements of the country’s aerospace program.

At present, the station is occupied by the Shenzhou-21 crew, who continue to conduct scientific experiments and maintenance work in orbit.

China’s space program has steadily advanced in recent years, with increased focus on scientific research, technological development, and future deep-space exploration missions.