The three taikonati, as the Chinese astronauts are called, have left for the Celestial Palace (Tiangong), China's space station whose first module (Tianhe) was recently launched. Lasting three months, the mission is the longest so far faced by Beijing. The Shenzhou shuttle (Divine Vessel) departed with a Long March 2F rocket at 9:22 local time (3:22 in Italy) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China.
It is the first manned Chinese mission since 2016 and the first to reach the new space station, which is still under development. On board are veterans Nie Haisheng (on the third mission) and Liu Boming (on the second), while Tang Hongbo faces his first time in space.