China on Thursday launched the Shenzhou-17 manned spaceship, and the three astronauts aboard will be sent to stay in orbit for about six months on a space station mission.

The spaceship, atop a Long March-2F carrier rocket, blasted off at 11:14 am Thursday (Beijing Time) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in northwest China, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).

About 10 minutes after the launch, the Shenzhou-17 spaceship separated from the rocket and entered its designated orbit. The crew members, consisting of Tang Hongbo, Tang Shengjie and Jiang Xinlin, are in good shape and the launch is a complete success, the CMSA said.

After entering orbit, the Shenzhou-17 spaceship will make a fast, automated rendezvous and docking with the space station combination. The Shenzhou-17 crew will rotate with the Shenzhou-16 crew in orbit.

DATELINE: Oct. 26, 2023

LENGTH: 00:00:28

LOCATION: JIUQUAN, China

CATEGORY: SCIENCE/TECHNOLOGY



SHOTLIST:

1. various of the successful launch of the Shenzhou-17 manned spaceship



STORYLINE:



China on Thursday launched the Shenzhou-17 manned spaceship, and the three astronauts aboard will be sent to stay in orbit for about six months on a space station mission.



The spaceship, atop a Long March-2F carrier rocket, blasted off at 11:14 a.m. Thursday (Beijing Time) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).



About 10 minutes after the launch, the Shenzhou-17 spaceship separated from the rocket and entered its designated orbit. The crew members, consisting of Tang Hongbo, Tang Shengjie and Jiang Xinlin, are in good shape and the launch is a complete success, the CMSA said.



After entering orbit, the Shenzhou-17 spaceship will make a fast, automated rendezvous and docking with the space station combination. The Shenzhou-17 crew will rotate with the Shenzhou-16 crew in orbit.



Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Jiuquan, China.

(XHTV)