Shenzhou XVIII manned spaceship successfully （dock）with the space station at 3:32 am on April 26 2024, according to the China Manned Space Agency（CMSA）. The whole process took （approximate）6.5hours.
The spaceship, atop a Long March-2F carrier rocket, blasted off at 8:59 p. m. from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China. About 10 （minute）after the launch, the Shenzhou-18 spaceship separated from the rocket 3 entered its designated orbit. The crew members are good shape and the launch is "complete success," the China Manned Space Agency（CMSA）announced.
While in orbit, the Shenzhou-18 spaceship is scheduled （make ）a fast, automated rendezvous and docking with the space station combination. The Shenzhou-18 crew will rotate with the Shenzhou-17 crew in orbit.
The Shenzhou-18 crew members are Ye Guangfu, Li Cong and Li Guangsu, with Ye as the mission （command）. The Shenzhou-18 mission marks Ye's second journey into space.（follow）his previous role as a crew member during the Shenzhou-13 mission from October 2021 to April 2022．Li Cong and Li Guangsu, belong to the third group of Chinese astronauts, are both embarking on their first-ever space adventure.
