Shenzhou 18

Shenzhou 18

Liftoff of Shenzhou 18.
Mission type	Tiangong space stationcrew transport
Operator	China Manned Space Agency
COSPAR ID	2024-078A
SATCATno.	59591
Mission duration	180 days (planned) 81 days, 15 hours and 43 minutes (in progress)
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft type	Shenzhou
Manufacturer	China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation
Crew
Crew size	3
Members	Ye Guangfu Li Cong Li Guangsu
Start of mission
Launch date	25 April 2024, 12:59 UTC (20:59 Local Time)
Rocket	Long March 2F
Launch site	Jiuquan,LA-4/SLS
Contractor	China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology
End of mission
Landing date	October 2024 (planned)
Landing site	Inner Mongolia,China
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric orbit
Regime	Low Earth orbit
Inclination	41.5°
Docking withTiangong space station
Docking port	Tianhenadir
Docking date	25 April 2024, 19:32 UTC
Undocking date	October 2024 (planned)
Time docked	180 days (planned) 81 days, 9 hours and 10 minutes (in progress)
Li Guangsu, Li Cong and Ye Guangfu China Manned Space Program

Shenzhou 18(Chinese:Thần thuyền mười tám hào;pinyin:Shénzhōu Shíbā-hào;lit.'Divine Boat Number 18') is a Chinese spaceflight to theTiangong space station,launched on 25 April 2024, near the end of theShenzhou 17mission. It carried threetaikonautson board aShenzhouspacecraft. The mission is the thirteenth crewed Chinese spaceflight and the eighteenth flight overall of theShenzhou program.

Background

Shenzhou 18 launched prior to the completion of the previous mission,Shenzhou 17.It is planned to last about six months, as is standard with Shenzhou missions toTiangong space station.It will depart following the arrival of theShenzhou 19crew.

The crew of Shenzhou 18 consists ofYe Guangfu,Li CongandLi Guangsu.

Mission

The mission launched fromJiuquan Satellite Launch Centeron board aLong March 2Frocket at 20:59 Beijing Time(UTC+8) (12:59 UTC). The Shenzhou spacecraft docked at the nadir port of the station'sTianhecore moduleat 19:32 UTC on 25 April 2024, some six and a half hours after liftoff.The crew entered the station prior to the departure of the crew from Shenzhou 17.

On 28 May 2024, Ye Guangfu and Li Guangsu carried out China's longestspacewalkyet, spending 8.5 hours on tasks including the installation of the space station's space debris protection device. Another spacewalk was conducted on 3 July 2024.

Crew

Position	Crew member
Commander	Ye Guangfu,CMSA Second spaceflight
Operator	Li Cong,CMSA First spaceflight
System Operator	Li Guangsu,CMSA First spaceflight

The crew of the Shenzhou 18 mission was announced by theCMSAon 24 April 2024 during a press conference in Jiuquan, China.