China successfully launches Shenzhou-20 crewed spaceship

China has successfully launched its Shenzhou-20 crewed mission, sending three astronauts to the Tiangong space station.

This marks the nation's 15th manned spaceflight.

On Thursday at 5:17 PM local time, the Shenzhou-20 spacecraft lifted off on a Long March 2F rocket from a satellite launch center in northwest China.

Approximately six and a half hours later, it docked with the Tiangong space station.

Mission commander Chen Dong, on his third spaceflight, and first-time astronauts Chen Zhongrui and Wang Jie will spend six months on the space station, conducting spacewalks and field experiments.

They will replace the Shenzhou-19 crew, who have been aboard Tiangong for 175 days and are scheduled to return to Earth on April 29.