China to launch the Shenzhou-17 spaceflight, with the youngest-ever crew to Tiangong space station on 26 October 2023, at 11:14 am (Beijing Time)
The past two years saw China successfully launch the Shenzhou 15 and Shenzhou spaceflight missions. While the Shenzhou 15 was launched on 29 November 2022, the Shenzhou 16 was launched on 30 May 2023. Prior to that, the previous Shenzhou spaceflights have also carried out notable missions, some of which you can check here.
Now, new space endeavors await China, as it is on its way to launch the Shenzhou-17 spaceflight to the Tiangong space station on 26 October 2023, at 11:14 a.m. (Beijing Time). Notably, the Shenzhou-17 is sending the youngest-ever crew to the Tiangong space station, with the crew’s average age standing at 38. China will launch the Shenzhou-17 spaceflight from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, in northwest China.
The Crew: The crew of the Shenzhou-17 consists of Chinese astronauts Tang Hongbo, Tang Shengjie, and Jiang Xinlin. Tang Hongbo is the commander of the Shenzhou-17 spaceflight.
Objectives of the Shenzhou-17 mission:
- The crew will carry out extravehicular experimental maintenance for the first time.
- Install extravehicular payloads.
- Assessment of the space station’s functioning and performance.
- Testing the coordination and compatibility of ground support centers in regard to space station operation and management tasks.
The last Shenzhou spaceflight, Shenzou-16, has been in progress for 148 days and 2 hours so far. During this duration, it has carried out over 70 experiments in various fields of science.
China is looking forward to newer space exploration and experiments upon the launch of the Shenzhou-17 spaceflight.
