In the recesses of the Gobi Desert, nestled on the fringes, lies the Jiuquan satellite launch centre, a bastion of China’s cosmic aspirations. A triumvirate of spacefarers embarked on a celestial journey Thursday, propelled by China’s resolute quest to grace the lunar surface by 2030. At the stroke of 8:59 pm (1259 GMT), the Shenzhou-18 spacecraft, borne aloft by the Long March 2-F rocket, commenced its odyssey.

This trinity of voyagers assumes the mantle from their predecessors, the valiant crew of Shenzhou-17, who have steadfastly manned the Tiangong space station since the waning embers of last October. Prior to their departure, amidst a tableau of fluttering banners and resonating anthems, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) orchestrated a poignant send-off for the intrepid Shenzhou-18 trio, as they readied themselves to traverse the cosmos.

Leading the charge is Commander Ye Guangfu, a seasoned astronaut of 43 solar cycles, distinguished by his participation in the Shenzhou-13 expedition of 2021. Accompanying him are the intrepid aviators Li Cong, aged 34, and Li Guangsu, aged 36, neophytes to the realm of spacefaring. Their rendezvous with the space station is anticipated approximately six-and-a-half hours subsequent to liftoff.

China’s indomitable spirit manifests in the creation of its indigenous space station, a beacon of technological prowess erected in response to exclusion from the International Space Station, primarily precipitated by apprehensions regarding the military entanglements of the Chinese contingent. In the annals of this annum, the station is slated to host two forays by cargo craft and two sorties by neophyte astronauts.