Celestial Relay: Shenzhou-20 Crew Rockets to Tiangong in Daring Night Launch

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China has sent off its Shenzhou-20 mission, sending three astronauts to the Tiangong space station in a strong step for its space program. The Long March 2F rocket took off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on April 24, and the crew docked at Tiangong after just 6.5 hours.

Key Highlights:

The crew consists of experienced commander Chen Dong and two rookie astronauts, Chen Zhongrui and Wang Jie.
Shenzhou-20 is the ninth manned mission to Tiangong and reflects China's determination to achieve a permanent presence in space.
There will be a swift handover to the Shenzhou-19 crew, then back to Earth on April 29, thanks to a short handover.
The six-month mission will feature the astronauts testing experiments in medicine, physics, and technology as well as introducing new debris shields.
Tiangong, completely built in 2022, is a testament to China's ascendant space power, with ambitions for a crewed lunar landing and Mars mission by 2030.
While Shenzhou-20 gets comfortable in orbit, China's space program keeps the world mesmerized with its speedy development and grand vision.