Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, northwest China - May 16, 2026 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
1. Various of rocket-spaceship combination being transferred to launch tower

The combination of the Shenzhou-23 crewed spacecraft and the Long March-2F Y23 carrier rocket commenced its transfer to the launch area at Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on Saturday.

Wind conditions at the launch site are moderate and the weather is clear, making it ideal for the combination's transfer.

With the support of a mobile platform, engineers are transferring the combination vertically towards the launch tower.

The rocket-spaceship assembly stands nearly 60 meters tall.

Such a colossal structure is connected to the mobile platform at its base by only four support points.

With a high center of gravity and a small support area, every step of the transfer must be carried out with the utmost care and caution.

China's manned rocket launch adopts a method where, after the rocket and spacecraft arrive at the site, a series of pre-launch preparations are completed through vertical assembly, vertical testing, and vertical transport.

Vertical assembly involves assembling the rocket and spacecraft inside the final assembly and testing building.

Once testing is complete, the spacecraft-rocket assembly possesses a fully integrated and stable structure.

From this time until launch, the assembly remains in an upright position, which ensures its stability.

After leaving the final assembly and testing facility, the combination will be transferred vertically along a 1.5-kilometer-long seamless steel rail to the launch pad.

This method protects the rocket from natural elements such as wind, sand, rain, and snow, while also reducing the rocket's dwell time in the launch area, thereby enhancing launch efficiency and safety.