China sends astronauts to Chinese space station for six-month stay
China sent three astronauts to the Tiangong space station for a six-month mission. The spacecraft Shenzhou-18, carrying the astronauts, lifted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre. The astronauts included Ye Guangfu, Li Cong, and Li Guangsu, all former air force pilots. Tiangong can house a maximum of three astronauts for months at an orbital altitude of up to 450 km. China has been launching two crewed missions to Tiangong per year since 2021.