Shenzhou-18 crewed spaceship atop a Long March-2F carrier rocket at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, April 17, 2024. /CMG
Shenzhou-18 crewed spaceship atop a Long March-2F carrier rocket at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, April 17, 2024. /CMG
China’s Shenzhou-18 crewed spaceship has been transferred to a launchpad atop a Long March-2F carrier rocket at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on Wednesday, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).
The rocket and spaceship were transported from its assembly testing factory on a 1.5-kilometer seamless track to the launch site. The combination was assembled vertically for testing and transportation, negating potential issues in advance and cutting down the waiting time ahead of launch.
According to the CMSA, the facilities and equipment at the launch site are in good condition, and various pre-launch function checks and joint tests will be carried out.
The spaceship will be launched at an appropriate time soon, said the CMSA.