China-Shenzhou-23/Astronauts/Launch Site
China-Shenzhou-23/Astronauts/Launch Site
Dateline : May 24, 2026
Location : China
Duration : 2'57
Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, northwest China - May 24, 2026 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
1. Various of Shenzhou-23 crew Zhu Yangzhu, Zhang Zhiyuan, Lai Ka-ying waving at cheering crowd during send-off ceremony
2. Various of astronauts boarding van, waving at cameras, cheering crowd
3. Various of vans escorted by motorcyclists leaving for launch site, people cheering on side of road
4. Various of launch center, vehicle arriving at launch tower
5. Various of astronauts walking, waving hands, cheering each other on
6. Various of astronauts taking elevator, getting out, walking
7. Launch tower
8. Astronauts walking, taking seats
9. Launch tower
The three astronauts of the Shenzhou-23 crewed spaceflight mission arrived at the launch site at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China after a send-off ceremony on Sunday, ready to board the spaceship for a flight to the Tiangong space station.
The Shenzhou-23 crewed spaceship is scheduled to blast off at 23:08 Beijing Time (15:08 GMT) from the launch site.
The three crew members -- commander Zhu Yangzhu, spacecraft pilot Zhang Zhiyuan and payload specialist Lai Ka-ying -- were escorted by a squad of motorcycles to the launch site and warmly greeted by crowds of people on both sides along the route.
They will take over command of China's Tiangong space station from the Shenzhou-21 crew currently in orbit, and one of them will conduct a one-year in-orbit stay, double the usual duration of previous Shenzhou missions.
Notably, astronaut Lai Ka-ying is also the first astronaut from China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
Shenzhou-23 marks the 40th flight of China's manned spaceflight program, and the seventh manned flight mission since the Tiangong space station entered its application and development phase in late 2022.
ID : 8480993
Published : 2026-05-24 21:38
Last Modified : 2026-05-24 22:52:10
Source : China Central Television (CCTV)
Restrictions : No access Chinese mainland
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