3 minute read•Updated 2:15 AM EDT, Thu April 24, 2025
China is set to launch its latest crewed mission to the Tiangong space station in just a few hours.
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The Shenzhou 20 mission will lift off aboard a Long March 2F rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China at 5:17 a.m. EDT (0917 GMT; 5:17 p.m. Beijing time).
Leading the three-person crew will be veteran astronaut Chen Dong, who is embarking on his third spaceflight. Joining him on their first space missions are Chen Zhongrui, a former pilot from the People's Liberation Army Air Force, and Wang Jie, an aerospace engineer previously associated with China's primary space contractor, the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC). Both were selected as part of China's third group of astronauts in 2020.
After a roughly 6.5-hour journey, Shenzhou 20 is scheduled to dock with the Tiangong space station, currently home to the Shenzhou 19 crew commanded by astronaut Cai Xuzhe. Cai and his colleagues will pass command of the orbital laboratory to the incoming team, officially starting Shenzhou 20’s six-month tenure aboard the space station.
The Shenzhou 19 crew is set to return to Earth aboard their spacecraft on April 29, according to recently issued airspace closure notices.
Chen Dong’s extensive experience includes a previous mission aboard Shenzhou 11 to the Tiangong 2 space laboratory in 2016, and leading the Shenzhou 14 mission in 2022, which oversaw the completion of the current three-module Tiangong station.
"I feel immense pride and honor to once again embark on a space journey for my country,...Every spaceflight is unique, and I look forward to gaining more experience and making new breakthroughs." - Chen
Chen Zhongrui recounted rigorous astronaut training, covering over 200 subjects, including challenging centrifuge and spin-chair exercises. His inspiration to join the space program came from meeting Yang Liwei, China's first astronaut in space, during a university visit. Wang Jie, serving as a spaceflight engineer, highlighted his primary responsibility in managing experimental materials and supporting scientific research aboard Tiangong.
"We are ready and looking forward to going to space," - Wang
The Shenzhou 20 mission aligns with China's ongoing efforts to sustain a continuous human presence aboard Tiangong. During the crew’s stay, China will launch the Tianzhou 9 cargo spacecraft, supplying Tiangong with fresh provisions, new scientific experiments, and propellant necessary for orbital station-keeping.
This mission marks the ninth crewed voyage to Tiangong, orbiting Earth at an altitude between 340 and 450 kilometers (217 to 280 miles), and the fifth during China's "application and development" stage for its fully operational space station, established in October 2022. CMSA (China Manned Space Agency) intends to maintain permanent occupancy of Tiangong for at least ten years, with future plans involving additional modules and international collaboration, including preparations with Pakistan for the first foreign astronaut visit.
With this mission, China reaffirms its growing role in space exploration, enhancing the capability of its national space infrastructure and promoting broader international participation in its ambitious orbital endeavors.
