China launches three new crew members to space station

The Shenzhou XX crewed spaceship, atop a Long March 2F rocket, blasts off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China's Gobi Desert, April 24, 2025. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

According to its docking program, the spacecraft would spend about six-and-a-half hours to approach and connect with the front port of the Tianhe core module.

Following the docking, the Shenzhou XX crew would use a certain period of time on preparatory work, such as putting off their pressure suit and wearing the intravehicular work suit, to make ready for their entry into the space station.

Meanwhile, the outgoing Shenzhou XIX team — mission commander Senior Colonel Cai Xuzhe, Lieutenant Colonel Song Lingdong and Lieutenant Colonel Wang Haoze － would wait inside the connection cabin to welcome their peers.

After all preparations are done, Cai's team would open a hatch in the connection cabin to let the arriving trio float in.

The two teams will stay together for approximately four days for transition work, after which the Shenzhou XIX astronauts will depart and return to Earth on Tuesday, according to mission planners.