Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, northwest China - April 16, 2025 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
1. Various of combination of Shenzhou-20 crewed spaceship and Long March-2F carrier rocket; transferring route; launching site
2. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Zheng Yonghuang, chief engineer, Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center:
"Compared with previous years, this year has seen more frequent and stronger windy and sandy weathers. By means of accurate weather forecasts, we are able to select favorable time windows and carry out real-time direct transfers, ensuring better protection and safety of the products."
3. Various of combination of Shenzhou-20 crewed spaceship and Long March-2F carrier rocket; transferring route; launching site

The combination of the Shenzhou-20 crewed spaceship and its Long March-2F carrier rocket is being transferred to the launching site in the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, in preparation for its scheduled launch into space later this month.

The combo, which weighs more than 43 tons and has a total altitude of nearly 60 meters, is being vertically moved to the launching site.

During the transfer process, an extremely high level of stability is required. To achieve this, engineers designed an oversized and heavy-duty mobile launch platform, providing solid support for the rocket and spacecraft assembly.

"Compared with previous years, this year has seen more frequent and stronger windy and sandy weathers. By means of accurate weather forecasts, we are able to select favorable time windows and carry out real-time direct transfers, ensuring better protection and safety of the products," said Zheng Yonghuang, chief engineer with the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.

The vertical transfer operation will take over two hours. Afterward, the rocket and spacecraft assembly will arrive at the launch tower, officially entering the launch preparation phase.

According to schedule, the Shenzhou-20 crewed spacecraft is set to be launched at an appropriate time in the coming days.

The Shenzhou-20 space mission will replace the previous mission -- the Shenzhou 19 -- for a six-month stay at China's Tiangong space station in orbit.