Shenzhou XXI team prepares for launch later tonight

The three astronauts of China's 16th manned spaceflight, the Shenzhou XXI mission, headed to the launch tower on Friday evening after a see-off ceremony in front of their residential building at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China.

Mission commander Senior Colonel Zhang Lu, spaceflight engineer Major Wu Fei, and payload specialist Zhang Hongzhang reported to a mission headquarters leader that they were ready for the coming mission and asked for permission to embark on the expedition.

The leader gave his permission before the crew saluted him and all participants in the brief event. The astronauts then boarded their coach to the launch tower. Many workers and residents at the Jiuquan center lined the route to cheer the astronauts on their way as the vehicle passed.

The Long March 2F carrier rocket, which will launch the Shenzhou XXI team, was filled with propellants by Thursday evening and is scheduled to blast off at 11:44 pm.

After entering orbit, the spaceship is programmed to fly for around three and a half hours, before docking with the Tiangong space station.

The Shenzhou XXI team will be the 10th crew to visit the Chinese space station, which was completed in late 2022.

Zhang Lu and his teammates will replace their peers on the Shenzhou XX flight, who have been in orbit for six months.