All systems aboard the Shenzhou-20 manned spacecraft, atop a Long March-2F carrier rocket, are fully prepared, with all personnel in position for the scheduled launch on Thursday afternoon.
The Shenzhou-20 crewed spaceship is scheduled to be launched at 17:17 Thursday (Beijing Time) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) said on Wednesday.
The spaceship will carry three astronauts, Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui and Wang Jie, who will conduct the Shenzhou-20 spaceflight mission, with Chen Dong serving as the commander.
The rocket's propellant filling was completed on Wednesday afternoon.
At 10:17 on Thursday, the rocket was powered up, and engineers conducted inspections of various functions.
At 13:47, the spacecraft was powered up.
At around 14:00, the three astronauts departed for the launch site.
Shenzhou-20 is the 35th flight mission of China's manned space program, and the fifth crewed mission during the application and development stage of China's space station.
Shenzhou-20 crewed spaceship all set for liftoff
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that Russia holds the strategic initiative along the entire front lines and the goals of the country's special military operation in Ukraine will be achieved.
"The past year has been an important milestone in fulfilling the tasks of the special military operation," Putin said while addressing an expanded meeting of the Russian Defense Ministry.
Putin underscored that Russia has the capability to accelerate its offensive pace, adding that Russia's task of expanding the security buffer zone will be fulfilled, and the core goals of the operation will be realized.
"This year alone, more than 300 settlements have been liberated, including major cities that the enemy had turned into fortified strongholds equipped with long-term defensive structures," the Russian leader said.
He said that the Russian military currently holds the strategic initiative along the entire Russia-Ukraine conflict front and is defeating Ukrainian forces, including elite Ukrainian units trained in the West.
Russia is currently seeking mutually beneficial and fair cooperation with the United States and European countries, Putin said.
Putin rejected claims portraying Russia as a threat to European nations, saying that such narratives are unfounded and fabricated.
Putin also announced that several submarines and surface ships have been commissioned into the Russian Navy this year, while the "Oreshnik" missile complex will enter combat duty by the end of 2025.
Russian military holds strategic initiative along entire Russia-Ukraine conflict front: Putin
