Ankara: China is scheduled to launch the Shenzhou-20 crewed spaceship Thursday, as announced by the China Manned Space Agency. The launch is set to occur at 5.17 p.m. local time (0917GMT) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center located in northwest China, according to an update shared by the Chinese Space Station on X.

According to Anadolu Agency, Chinese astronauts Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui, and Wang Jie will carry out the Shenzhou-20 crewed spaceflight mission. Chen Dong has been assigned the role of mission commander for this space endeavor. The crew of Shenzhou-20 will replace the Shenzhou-19 taikonauts, who are scheduled to return home after a six-month research mission conducted in space.

The Shenzhou-19 spacecraft was launched in October of the previous year, carrying three astronauts into space as part of China's ongoing advancements in space exploration.