China to launch Shenzhou-20 crewed mission

China is set to launch its next crewed space mission, Shenzhou-20, on 24 April. The spacecraft will dock with the Tianhe core module about 6.5 hours after liftoff, expanding the orbital complex to a three-module, three-spacecraft configuration.

This mission represents China’s fifth manned flight in the operational phase of its space station and the 35th overall in its crewed space program. The three astronauts, Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui, and Wang Jie, will replace the Shenzhou-19 crew and spend six months conducting scientific research, spacewalks, cargo transfers, and installing protective shielding against space debris. They will also oversee the arrival of the Tianzhou-9 cargo ship and the Shenzhou-21 crew later this year before returning to Earth in October.

Meanwhile, the departing Shenzhou-19 crew is expected to land at the Dongfeng site on 29 April, as reported by CGTN, a partner of TV BRICS.

In addition to operational tasks, the crew will perform 59 experiments, including pioneering life science studies involving zebrafish, planarians, and streptomyces to explore biological responses in microgravity.

Photo: iStock