Shenzhou-18 - CZ-2F/G - Jiuquan - April 25, 2024 (12:59 UTC)

• #20 by Galactic Penguin SST on 24 Apr, 2024 01:57
• Crew has just been announced:
  
  * Ye Guangfu (Commander, previously flew on Shenzhou 13)
  * Li Cong (new, from 3rd Chinese astronaut class)
  * Li Guangsu (new, from 3rd Chinese astronaut class)
  
  T-0 of 12:59 UTC April 25 has been confirmed, with docking to CSS about ~6.5 hours later. The SZ-18 crew is planning to do 2-3 EVAs during their stay till late October, including works to install MMOD shields on the station's exterior (over cables/pipelines etc.). A new aquarium is also showcased during this press conference as one of the new scientific payloads to be used during this expedition.

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• #21 by Satori on 24 Apr, 2024 16:09
• Astronauts of China's Shenzhou-18 mission meet press.
  
  Ye Guangfu, Li Cong and Li Guangsu, the three Chinese astronauts for the upcoming Shenzhou-18 spaceflight mission, met the press on Wednesday.

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• #22 by Satori on 24 Apr, 2024 16:10
• China discloses tasks of Shenzhou-18 crewed space mission.
  
  The Shenzhou-18 astronauts will perform various in-orbit space science and application tests and experiments as well as multiple space walks during their six-month stay in the country's space station, a senior official of the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) announced at a press conference on Wednesday.

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• #23 by Satori on 24 Apr, 2024 16:12
• China to launch Shenzhou-18 crewed spaceship on April 25.
  
  The Shenzhou-18 crewed spaceship is scheduled to be launched at 8:59 p.m. Thursday (Beijing Time) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, announced the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) on Wednesday.
• #24 by Satori on 24 Apr, 2024 16:13
• Profile: Radiant return: Taikonaut Ye Guangfu set for new space sojourn.
  
  The Tiangong space station is set to receive a returning visitor, as taikonaut Ye Guangfu prepares to embark on another six-month stint in orbit.
• #25 by Lewis007 on 25 Apr, 2024 05:13
• Videos:
  
  
  
• #26 by Galactic Penguin SST on 25 Apr, 2024 09:59
• English livestream via CCTV Plus:
  
  
• #27 by centaurinasa on 25 Apr, 2024 11:59
• CGTN ingress coverage.
  
  

  Quote

  Live: Special coverage of send-off ceremony for the Shenzhou-18 manned spacecraft crew at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern #China. #SpaceChina

  
  https://twitter.com/i/broadcasts/1OwGWYWdEBAxQ
  
  
• #28 by centaurinasa on 25 Apr, 2024 12:01
• https://www.cgtn.com/tv
  

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• #29 by SMS on 25 Apr, 2024 12:58
• Launch scheduled at 12:58:57 GMT.
• #30 by Liss on 25 Apr, 2024 13:16
• The spacecraft seems to be in orbit.
• #31 by mikezang on 25 Apr, 2024 13:29
• T0: 12:59:00.479 UTC.
• #32 by centaurinasa on 25 Apr, 2024 13:32
• Quote

  Liftoff! Long March 2F Y18 launches Shenzhou-18 with 3 astronauts to the China Space Station

  
  https://twitter.com/CNSpaceflight/status/1783484695927533683
  
  

  Quote

  BREAKING: China launches the Shenzhou-18 crewed spaceship from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China. Taikonauts Ye Guangfu, Li Cong and Li Guangsu head to the China Space Station,

  
  https://twitter.com/GlobalWatchCGTN/status/1783482701636620359

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• #33 by centaurinasa on 25 Apr, 2024 13:34
• Quote

  Every step goes well as planned. CMSA expected to announce the success of Shenzhou-18 launch soon

  
  https://twitter.com/CNSpaceflight/status/1783486871840117005

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• #34 by centaurinasa on 25 Apr, 2024 13:36
• Quote

  separated from the Long March 2F second stage; solar array deploy confirmed; the crew is now in orbit and on track to dock at the Tiangong space station later today (early Friday UTC)

  
  https://twitter.com/cbs_spacenews/status/1783484918313496984
  
  

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• #35 by centaurinasa on 25 Apr, 2024 13:40
• Right now, the mission control center give the go to open the hatch between the descent and orbital modules.
• #36 by catdlr on 25 Apr, 2024 13:56
• #37 by Galactic Penguin SST on 25 Apr, 2024 17:13
• https://twitter.com/CNSpaceflight/status/1783493096757711164
  
  https://twitter.com/CNSpaceflight/status/1783509958522511523

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• #38 by Galactic Penguin SST on 25 Apr, 2024 17:15
• Exact liftoff time was 12:59:00.479 UTC.

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• #39 by centaurinasa on 25 Apr, 2024 20:04
• According to CGTN, Shenzhou 18 is already docked to Tiangong Space Station.