China’s Shenzhou-18 Mission Set for Liftoff After Successful Rehearsal

China’s space program is gearing up for another milestone! The Shenzhou-18 crewed spacecraft has cleared its final checks and is ready to launch after a full rehearsal at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. This mission will send three taikonauts—China’s astronauts—to the China Space Station for a six-month stay, marking the country’s 13th manned spaceflight .

Sunday’s rehearsal simulated every step of the launch, from pre-flight prep to rocket ignition and spacecraft separation. The crew practiced critical tasks inside the re-entry capsule, while engineers tested the reliability of the Long March rocket and ground systems . All systems are go, with the taikonauts reported to be in top physical and mental condition.

\"We will enter the pre-launch inspection and launch procedures according to the scheduled launch window,\" said Gao Minzhong, a senior engineer at the center. Next up: fueling the rocket before the big day!

With over 1,000 experiments planned aboard the space station, this mission continues China’s push to become a global leader in STEM and space exploration . Stay tuned for liftoff!

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China Shenzhou-18 manned mission ready for launch after full rehearsal

cgtn.com