The Shenzhou-13 spacecraft successfully docked with the Chinese orbital station

The Shenzhou-13 manned spacecraft has successfully docked with the Tiangong orbital station under construction, according to the China Manned Space Flight Program Administration.

The spacecraft with three Taikunauts on board completed this task approximately seven hours after launch from the Chinese Jiuquan Cosmodrome.

Zhai Zhigang, who in 2008 became the first Chinese to make a spacewalk, a female cosmonaut Wang Yaping, as well as a novice cosmonaut Ye Guangfu, were brought into orbit.

The crew will spend at least 180 days at the station. It is planned that the Taikunauts will perform two or three spacewalks and conduct a number of scientific experiments.

Recall that in April, China launched the base module of the national space station into orbit. The assembly of the Chinese station should be completed in 2022.

On June 17, the CZ-2F launch vehicle with the Shenzhou-12 manned spacecraft was launched in China. On July 4, Taikunauts Liu Bomin and Tang Hongbo went into outer space. In September, the descent vehicle of the Shenzhou-12 spacecraft with three astronauts on board returned to Earth.

Launch of the Shenzhou-12 spacecraft with three cosmonauts to the orbital station

Chinese astronauts Nie Haisheng, Liu Boming and Tang Hongbo at a press conference before the launch of the Shenzhou-12 manned spacecraft to the PRC orbital station at the Jiuquan Cosmodrome © www.globallookpress.com

Chinese cosmonauts (Taikunauts) Tang Hongbo, Nie Haisheng and Liu Boming before the launch of the CZ-2F launch vehicle with the Shenzhou-12 manned spacecraft © www.globallookpress.com

The CZ-2F carrier rocket with the Shenzhou-12 manned spacecraft with three astronauts on board takes off to the Shenzhou-12 orbital station under construction. © www.globallookpress.com

Launch of the Shenzhou-12 spacecraft with three cosmonauts to the orbital station

Chinese cosmonauts (Taikunauts) Tang Hongbo, Nie Haisheng and Liu Boming before the launch of the CZ-2F launch vehicle with the Shenzhou-12 manned spacecraft © www.globallookpress.com

The CZ-2F carrier rocket with the Shenzhou-12 manned spacecraft with three astronauts on board takes off to the Shenzhou-12 orbital station under construction. © www.globallookpress.com