China to launch Shenzhou-16 space mission with first civilian on board
The Straits Times|May 30, 2023
He is a professor in Beijing who specialises in spacecraft systems
Aw Cheng Wei
China to launch Shenzhou-16 space mission with first civilian on board

JIUQUAN, Gansu - China will be launching its first civilian and the country's most experienced astronaut into space on Tuesday to mark the start of a new phase for Tiangong, its recently constructed space station.

Professor Gui Haichao of the Beihang University in Beijing will be travelling alongside veteran astronaut Jing Haipeng as well as Colonel Zhu Yangzhu, who will also be going into space for the first time. Major-General Jing will be leading the team.

They will be on board the Shenzhou-16, or Divine Vessel, which will be launched into space from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in north-western China at 9.31am on Tuesday.

The carrier will be docked onto Tiangong, or Heavenly Palace, where the astronauts will take over from the crew of Shenzhou-15 and live in the space station for an estimated 180 days.

This story is from the May 30, 2023 edition of The Straits Times.

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This story is from the May 30, 2023 edition of The Straits Times.

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