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LIVE: Special Coverage of China's Shenzhou-23 Crewed Spacecraft Launch

China launches its Shenzhou-23 crewed spacecraft from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China. Chinese astronauts Zhu Yangzhu, Zhang Zhiyuan and Lai Ka-ying carry out the mission, with Zhu as the commander. Welcome to subscribe us on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NewsContent.CCTVPLUS Twitter: https://twitter.com/CCTV_Plus LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cctv-news-content Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cctv_video_news_agency/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cctv_plus Video on …

LIVE: China to launch astronauts to Tiangong space station on Shenzhou-23 spacecraft

Watch live as China launches a crew of three astronauts to its Tiangong space station on Shenzhou-23 spacecraft from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. The crew includes Lai Ka-ying, who is the first astronaut from Hong Kong, along with astronauts Zhu Yangzhu and Zhang Zhiyuan. #china #space #live

Shenzhou 23

Circle Image

Overview

Destination: Low Earth Orbit
Mission: Human Exploration

Low Earth Orbit Launch Area 91 (SLS-1 / 921) Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China

Shenzhou 23 will be the 23rd flight of the Shenzhou program.

Updates

Cosmic_Penguin • May 24, 2026, 3:29 p.m.

Launch success.


Cosmic_Penguin • May 24, 2026, 3:09 p.m.

Liftoff.


LL2 • May 24, 2026, noon

Unofficial Webcast by CGTN has started


Cosmic_Penguin • May 18, 2026, 6:43 a.m.

NET May 24 per new NOTAMs.


Cosmic_Penguin • May 16, 2026, 2 a.m.

NET late May.


Long March 2F/G

Family:
Configuration: F/G

The Long March 2F is a Chinese orbital carrier rocket, part of the Long March 2 rocket family. Designed to launch the crewed Shenzhou spacecraft, the Long March 2F is a human-rated two-stage version of the Long March 2E rocket, which in turn was based on the Long March 2C launch vehicle. It is launched from complex SLS at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. The Long March 2F/G version includes longer boosters for increased lift capability, among other improvements.

Specifications
  • Stages
    2
  • Length
    62.0 m
  • Diameter
    3.35 m
  • Fairing Diameter
  • Launch Mass
    464.0 T
  • Thrust
Family
  • Name
    Long March 2F/G
  • Family
  • Variant
    F/G
  • Alias
  • Full Name
    Long March 2F/G
Payload Capacity
  • Launch Cost
  • Low Earth Orbit
    8399.0 kg
  • Geostationary Transfer Orbit
  • Direct Geostationary
  • Sun-Synchronous Capacity

Shenzhou 23


Active Human Rated Crew On-board: 3 Crew Capacity: 3
Destination: Tiangong space station
Serial Number: 23

Spacecraft used to launch 3 astronauts on the 11th crewed mission to the Chinese Space Station.

Shenzhou Details

Crew


Zhu Yangzhu

Commander - configurations.Country.None - ( CNSA )

Status: Active

Date of Birth: Sept. 1, 1986
Age: 39

Lai Ka-ying

Operator - configurations.Country.None - ( CNSA )

Status: Active

Date of Birth: Nov. 1, 1982
Age: 43

Zhang Zhiyuan

Operator - configurations.Country.None - ( CNSA )

Status: Active

Date of Birth: June 1, 1986
Age: 40

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation

(CASC)

Chairman & President: Lei Fanpei Founded: 1999 Successes: 584 Failures: 15 Pending: 8

Agency Type:

The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) is the main contractor for the Chinese space program. It is state-owned and has a number of subordinate entities which design, develop and manufacture a range of spacecraft, launch vehicles, strategic and tactical missile systems, and ground equipment. It was officially established in July 1999 as part of a Chinese government reform drive, having previously been one part of the former China Aerospace Corporation. Various incarnations of the program date back to 1956.

INFO WIKI

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Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China

Launch Area 91 (SLS-1 / 921)


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