Chinese astronauts Nie Haisheng (C), Liu Boming (R) and Tang Hongbo meet the press at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, June 16, 2021. (Xinhua/Ju Zhenhua)
JIUQUAN, June 16 (Xinhua) -- The Shenzhou-12 manned spaceship is expected to be launched at 9:22 a.m. Thursday (Beijing Time) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, announced the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) on Wednesday.
The spaceship will take three male astronauts -- Nie Haisheng, Liu Boming and Tang Hongbo -- into space for the construction of China's space station, said Ji Qiming, assistant to the director of the CMSA, at a press conference held at the launch center.
China launched the space station core module Tianhe on April 29 and the cargo spacecraft Tianzhou-2 on May 29. According to Ji, the complex of the two spacecraft has been in good condition, with all equipment operating normally.
The complex has moved into an orbit at an altitude of 390 kilometers, ready for the rendezvous and docking as well as the entry of the astronauts, Ji said.
All systems conducting the Shenzhou-12 mission have undergone the comprehensive rehearsal, the crew is in good shape, and all pre-launch preparations are in order, Ji added.
Chinese astronaut Nie Haisheng is seen during underwater training on Jan. 2, 2021. (Photo by Kong Fangzhou/Xinhua)
Chinese astronauts Nie Haisheng (C), Liu Boming (L) and Tang Hongbo are seen during training on May 15, 2021. (Photo by Xu Bu/Xinhua)
Chinese astronaut Tang Hongbo communicates with scientific research personnel during a break of training on Dec. 3, 2019. (Photo by Kong Fangzhou/Xinhua)
Chinese astronaut Liu Boming is seen during training on March 26, 2021. (Photo by Kong Fangzhou/Xinhua)
Chinese astronauts Nie Haisheng, Liu Boming and Tang Hongbo are seen during a testing on July 20, 2020. (Photo by Kong Fangzhou/Xinhua)
Chinese astronauts Nie Haisheng, Liu Boming and Tang Hongbo are seen during training on April 22, 2021. (Photo by Xu Bu/Xinhua)■
