China's space agency is gearing up to send the Shenzhou-18 crew into low-Earth orbit on Thursday as part of its ambitious space program. The China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) announced the three astronauts who will be part of the mission: Commander Ye Guangfu, a veteran astronaut, along with astronauts Li Cong and Li Guangsu, who will be going to space for the first time.
The spacecraft is scheduled for lift-off at 8:59 p.m. (1259 GMT) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in China's northwest. The crew will relieve the Shenzhou-17 team currently stationed at China's Tiangong space station since last October. The upcoming mission will see the crew spending approximately six months on the space station, conducting scientific tests, installing space debris protection equipment, carrying out payload experiments, and engaging in science education initiatives.
