China’s Shenzhou-16 blasts off for space station

STORY: China sends three astronauts to its space station as part of crew rotation, state media reports

marking the fifth manned mission to the Chinese space outpost since 2021

Date: May 30, 2023

The spacecraft, Shenzhou-16, lifts off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center

The three astronauts will replace the crew of the Shenzhou-15 at the Tiangong space station

The station comprises three modules and was completed at the end of last year

China has announced plans to expand its permanently inhabited space outpost