Shenzhou-20 astronauts board spaceship ahead of launch

China

Shenzhou-20 astronauts board spaceship ahead of launch

2025-04-24 15:56 Last Updated At：23:47

The three astronauts of the Shenzhou-20 crewed spaceflight mission have boarded the spaceship which is slated to be launched from northwest China's Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center to the Tiangong space station at 17:17 Thursday (Beijing Time).

Chen Dong, the mission commander, and his crew mates Chen Zhongrui and Wang Jie got aboard the spaceship with the help of technicians.

The Shenzhou-20 astronauts will complete in-orbit rotation with the Shenzhou-19 crew and stay at the space station for approximately six months.

During the mission, the new crew will witness the arrival of the Tianzhou-9 cargo craft and Shenzhou-21 crewed spaceship.

They will undertake a range of tasks, including space science experiments, application tests, extravehicular activities, and cargo handling. Their mission also involves installing protective devices against space debris, and deploying and retrieving extravehicular payloads and equipment.

They will also participate in science education, public outreach, and other onboard experimental activities.

The Shenzhou-19 astronauts are scheduled to return to the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on April 29.

ROK president reiterates firm adherence to one-China principle

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said on Wednesday that Seoul firmly adheres to the one-China principle, in comments made ahead of his upcoming state visit to China.

The remarks were made in an interview with China Media Group (CMG). The visit is scheduled for Jan 4–7.

"The consensus reached between governments of the Republic of Korea and China when diplomatic relations were established continues to be the fundamental principle governing our relations, and its effectiveness remains steadfast. I want to clearly state that the ROK has always adhered to the one-China principle. Maintaining peace and stability in regional matters, including in Northeast Asia and concerning the Taiwan issue, holds significant importance to us," said Lee.

"The foundational relationship between the ROK and China was established on a very principled and fundamental basis from the beginning. It is clear that the ROK government has always adhered to this position and has never wavered from it. I believe that the sound development of ROK-China relations depends on both sides fully respecting each other's core interests and being mutually tolerant of each other's positions. In this context, we will, as always, uphold the one-China principle as the Taiwan issue is China's most fundamental concern," he said.