China has successfully launched a rocket to send a team of three astronauts to the nation's space station. The Shenzhou 17 blasted off at 11:14 a.m. local time, state broadcaster CCTV reported.
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The launch comes shortly after Wu Weiren, chief designer of China's lunar exploration program outlined the nation's space goals for the next 15 years, including a mission to send Chinese astronauts to the moon for the first time.
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The trio — (from left) Jiang Xinlin, Tang Hongbo, and Tang Shengjie — will replace a crew that has been on the station for six months. Tang is a veteran who led a 2021 space mission for three months.
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China last launched a crewed rocket to its space station on May 30, when the Shenzhou 16 spaceship sent three astronauts, including veteran Jing Haipeng and scientist Gui Haichao.
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During their time in space, they conducted a spacewalk and held a public lecture for Chinese students. The Shenzhou 16 crew members are scheduled to return to Earth on Oct. 31.
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China’s first manned space mission in 2003 made it the third country after the former Soviet Union and the U.S. to put a person into space using its own resources.
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