emirates7 - China is set to launch the Shenzhou XX mission on Thursday afternoon as part of a scheduled crew rotation aboard the Tiangong space station, according to a senior official from the country’s space programme.

Lin Xiqiang, Deputy Director of the China Manned Space Agency, confirmed that the Shenzhou XX spacecraft, carrying a team of three astronauts, will lift off aboard a Long March 2F rocket.

The launch coincides with China’s 10th Space Day, celebrated annually on April 24, as reported by China Daily.

Lin explained that once the spacecraft enters its intended orbit, it will use a rapid autonomous rendezvous and docking procedure to connect with the forward port of the Tianhe core module. This docking process is expected to take about six and a half hours.

The new crew will take over responsibilities from the Shenzhou XIX team, who have been on the station since October 30. Both crews will share the station for around four days to ensure a smooth handover before the Shenzhou XIX astronauts return to Earth on Tuesday.

Over their six-month mission, the Shenzhou XX crew will carry out a range of duties, including scientific research, technology experiments, spacewalks to install debris shielding and external instruments, retrieval of devices mounted outside the station, and educational outreach activities such as science lectures.