🚀 China has just taken another giant leap into space! On Thursday evening, the Shenzhou-18 manned spaceship blasted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, carrying three brave astronauts into orbit. 🌌
The launch happened at exactly 8:59 p.m. Beijing Time, with the trusty Long March-2F carrier rocket propelling the spacecraft toward the stars. Just about 10 minutes after liftoff, Shenzhou-18 separated from the rocket and smoothly entered its planned orbit. Talk about a flawless start! 🙌
But the excitement doesn't stop there. The Shenzhou-18 crew is set to perform an autonomous, fast rendezvous and docking with China's space station. They're gearing up for an in-orbit rotation with the Shenzhou-17 crew, keeping the station buzzing with activity. 🛰️
This mission is a big deal for China! It's their first manned mission to the space station this year and the third since the space station entered its application and development phase. Can you believe this is China's 32nd manned flight into space and the 518th flight mission of the Long March series rockets? That's some serious space mileage! 🌠
With the Shenzhou-18 mission, China is not just reaching for the stars but grabbing hold of them. It's the 13th manned spaceflight since the country launched its manned space program, marking another milestone in their journey to explore the cosmos. 🚀✨
So, keep your eyes on the skies! Who knows what incredible discoveries await us as we continue to push the boundaries of space exploration. The universe is vast, and missions like Shenzhou-18 bring us one step closer to unraveling its mysteries. 🌌🌟
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
