Shenzhou 18 Launches with Three Astronauts for China’s Space Station

On Thursday, April 25, at 8:59 PM Beijing time, the Shenzhou 18 mission successfully launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center aboard the Long March 2F rocket. This mission, managed by the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA), involves sending three taikonauts to the Chinese space station Tiangong.

*Launch of a Long March 2F with the Shenzhou 18 mission. Credits: CCTV*

Over the next six months, the crew will carry out various scientific and technological experiments, making a significant contribution to space research. Moreover, this mission marks a handover, as the Shenzhou 18 crew will replace the outgoing crew of Shenzhou 17.

Meet the Shenzhou 18 crew

The Shenzhou 18 mission crew is composed of three taikonauts: Ye Guangfu, Li Cong, and Li Guangsu. These three astronauts represent a combination of experience and new talent in the Chinese space program.

*The three astronauts in the Shenzhou 18 mission headed to the launch tower after a brief see-off ceremony. Credits: CMS & CMG*

Ye Guangfu, 43 years old, is the crew commander and the veteran of the group. He was selected to join the second group of Chinese taikonauts in 2010 and has already participated in the Shenzhou 13 mission from 2021 to 2022, during which they completed China’s first six-month-long human spaceflight mission.

Li Cong, born in October 1989, is the youngest member of the crew. He was selected to be part of the third group of Chinese astronauts in September 2020. The Shenzhou 18 mission will be his first space flight.

Li Guangsu, born in July 1987, joined the third group of Chinese astronauts in September 2020. During the mission, his main tasks will be space experiments and tests in the fields of aerospace medicine, basic physics, material science, and life science.

Aquatic life in orbit

The Shenzhou 18 mission carries a series of scientific and technological experiments that will be conducted by the crew over the next few months. These experiments have been designed to deepen our understanding of life in space and to lay the groundwork for future long-duration missions.

One of the most notable experiments involves aquatic ecological research. For the first time, the Shenzhou 18 mission will carry out an experiment with the zebrafish as the research subject. Along with various species of vegetation, including duckweed and hornwort, the crew will seek to recreate a self-circulating and functioning aquatic ecosystem in space.

整整 1 年后，终于要把鱼送上去了~~~
（视频 CAS/SITP） https://t.co/DQNesGzlXX pic.twitter.com/x3cof05zb5
— Seger YU (@SegerYu) April 25, 2024

This will be the first Chinese experiment with a vertebrate fish in space. The astronauts will use LED light to support plant growth and maintain oxygen levels for the aquatic ecosystem.

Activities and tasks

The astronauts have made comprehensive, systematic, and in-depth preparations for this mission, focusing on extravehicular activities (EVAs), emergency response, space station management, equipment maintenance, and experimental operation. They are expected to perform between 2 and 3 EVAs to install shields.

*A taikonaut in an extravehicular activity (EVA), seen from the Tiangong space station. Credits: CMS*

Finally, the Shenzhou 18 crew will have the task of further improving the safety of the space station. They will implement protective devices to reinforce the vulnerable areas of the space station that could be easily damaged by space debris.

In addition, they will install a system for monitoring and locating impact leaks on the space station structure, thus helping to further optimize and perfect the space station’s pressure emergency response plans.

The return of the 17th mission and the future of the 18th

The 18th mission marks an important handover in space. The crew of the 17th mission will return to Earth on April 30, leaving the space station in the hands of the new crew. This crew will remain on the station until the end of October, for a total of six months. During this period, they will receive supplies from the Tianzhou 8 cargo spacecraft. At the end of their shift, they will hand over to the crew of the 19th mission.

During a press conference on the 18th mission, the deputy director of the Chinese Human Space Program Office stated that they are accelerating research to allow foreign astronauts and space tourists to participate in flights to the space station. In the near future, the Chinese space station will welcome many new members with different identities.