Afrigather China’s newest crew of three astronauts is now aboard the nation’s Tiangong area station.
The trio, the crew of the Shenzhou 16 mission, launched on a Lengthy March 2F rocket from Jiuquan spaceport within the Gobi Desert at 9:31 p.m. EDT on Might 29 (0131 GMT and 9:31 p.m. native time on Might 30).
The Shenzhou 16 spacecraft accomplished a quick automated rendezvous and docking with Tiangong at 4:29 a.m. on Might 30 (0829 GMT or 4:29 p.m. Beijing time), docking with the radial port of the station’s Tianhe core module. Footage launched by the China Manned House Company and Chinese language broadcaster CCTV reveals the spacecraft approaching and docking whereas touring at round 17,800 mph (28,650 kph).
Associated: Facts about China’s Tiangong space station
Footage from inside Tiangong reveals the Shenzhou 15 crew — Fei Junlong, Deng Qingming and Zhang Lu — greeting the incoming Shenzhou 16 astronauts as they enter the hatch to the outpost.
Shenzhou 16 commander Jing Haipeng, spaceflight engineer Zhu Yangzhu and payload specialist Gui Haichao — the primary members of a 3rd astronaut choice group to fly to area — are set to take over command of Tiangong from the Shenzhou 15 crew, who will return to Earth on June 3.
Jing, Zhu and Gui will stay aboard the orbital outpost till November, conducting science experiments, extravehicular actions and fascinating in science popularization and outreach.
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