Led by mission commander Senior Colonel Chen Dong, along with Colonel Chen Zhongrui and Colonel Wang Jie, the Shenzhou XX team was launched on Thursday afternoon aboard a Long March 2F rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.
Following a six-and-a-half-hour journey, the Shenzhou XX spacecraft docked with the front port of the Tianhe core module-the central section of the Tiangong station-at 11:49 pm. After docking, the crew changed from their pressure suits into intravehicular work attire and prepared their spacecraft for station entry.
While this work progressed, Shenzhou XIX astronauts-mission commander Senior Colonel Cai Xuzhe, Lieutenant Colonel Song Lingdong, and Lieutenant Colonel Wang Haoze-waited inside the connection cabin. Upon completion of entry preparations, Cai's team opened the hatch at 1:17 am to welcome the incoming astronauts.
After an exchange of embraces, Cai congratulated Chen Dong on his return to the "Heavenly Palace," the English translation of Tiangong, and praised Chen Zhongrui and Wang Jie for achieving their "spaceflight dreams." He added, "In the following days, let us work together to make our 'space home' better."
Chen Dong replied, "It feels great to return to the 'space home'. Let's make the best use of the next few days to finish the handover work."
The two teams then took group photographs to commemorate the historic moment, marking the sixth in-orbit rendezvous involving Chinese astronauts.
Both crews will collaborate over the next five days to complete the handover. The Shenzhou XIX crew is scheduled to depart and return to Earth, with their reentry capsule expected to land on Tuesday, according to the China Manned Space Agency.
Assigned as the 15th manned mission and ninth set of Tiangong occupants, the Shenzhou XX astronauts will undertake a broad range of duties during their six-month stay aboard the station.
Related Links
China Manned Space Agency
The Chinese Space Program - News, Policy and Technology
China News from SinoDaily.com
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