Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, northwest China - April 24, 2025 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
1. Various of launch pad

All systems aboard the Shenzhou-20 manned spacecraft, atop a Long March-2F carrier rocket, are fully prepared, with all personnel in position for the scheduled launch on Thursday afternoon.

The Shenzhou-20 crewed spaceship is scheduled to be launched at 17:17 Thursday (Beijing Time) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) said on Wednesday.

The spaceship will carry three astronauts, Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui and Wang Jie, who will conduct the Shenzhou-20 spaceflight mission, with Chen Dong serving as the commander.

The rocket's propellant filling was completed on Wednesday afternoon.

At 10:17 on Thursday, the rocket was powered up, and engineers conducted inspections of various functions.

At 13:47, the spacecraft was powered up.

At around 14:00, the three astronauts departed for the launch site.

Shenzhou-20 is the 35th flight mission of China's manned space program, and the fifth crewed mission during the application and development stage of China's space station.