China Launches Shenzhou 23 to Tiangong Station, Aims for Year-Long Spaceflight

China is set to launch three astronauts on a Tiangong space station mission this Sunday. The Long March 2F rocket carrying the Shenzhou 23 mission is stationed at the Gobi Desert launch pad, with liftoff expected around 11:10 pm Beijing time.

The crew of three will spend roughly six months aboard Tiangong. However, due to a Pakistani astronaut’s brief stopover on the upcoming Shenzhou 24 mission, one crew member will remain in orbit for an entire year – potentially marking China’s first year-long spaceflight.

China Manned Space Agency has kept the crew names confidential until the final press conference at Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. Pre-launch rehearsals have shown all systems are operational, and astronauts underwent medical reviews and final preparations before liftoff. The official launch time remains unspecified, but airspace closures suggest a Sunday morning liftoff is likely.