China sends three Taikonauts to its space platform

Taikonauts Jing Haipeng, Zhu Yangzhu and Gui Haichao at a press conference before takeoff in Shenzhou-16 to the Chinese space station, at the Jiuquan satellite launch center in China. /Photo taken on May 29, 2023/Reuters/China Daily

PEKIN (Reuters) – Three Chinese astronauts took off Tuesday on board the Shenzhou -16 (divine vessel) to take place aboard the Chinese space platform and relay a team of three other Taikonauts.

The space vehicle and its three passengers left the land at 01:31 GMT, launched by a long rocket 2F walking from the jiuquan shot, located in the Gobi desert.

They will be installed on board the Chinese space station (CSS), a platform made up of three modules whose assembly was completed at the end of 2022.

Among the crew is Jing Haipeng, 56 and veteran of the Chinese Air Force who has already made three trips to space.

He flew alongside Zhu Yangzhu and Gui Haichao, 36.

The first will take on the role of on -board engineer while the second, a academic, will be responsible for driving and supervising scientific experiences aboard the station.

(Liz Lee and Qiaoyi Li; with Liangping Gao and Ethan Wang; French version Nicolas Delame, editing by Blandine Hénault)