The three Shenzhou-14 astronauts, who arrived at the China Space Station on June 5, entered the two cargo spaceships on Monday for supplies, according to the China Manned Space Engineering Office (CMSEO).

The crew entered Tianzhou-4 at 12:19 p.m. (Beijing Time) and Tianzhou-3 later in the afternoon, so as to transfer and sort out the cargo during their first working day in the space station. 

The Shenzhou-14 spaceship was launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China. The crew entered the core module Tianhe after the spaceship successfully docked with the space station.

They will stay in orbit for six months and complete the assembly and construction of the space station.

The astronauts need to fetch living necessities from the cargo craft, said Liu Weibo, deputy chief designer of the astronaut system of China's manned space project. "They need to transfer things such as food, water, air filters and set them up in the core module."

Setting up all the equipment and moving around the supplies will be the astronauts' main tasks during the first week of their stay. 

They will activate the core module into a working mode, which can provide the astronauts the right environment for living and working, Liu said.

"The ground team will offer support whenever the astronauts need," he noted.

There will be a series of health checks for the astronauts, as they just arrived at the space station. "We will confirm they can adapt themselves to the environment in space," Liu said.

Tianzhou-4, which holds supplies for the Shenzhou-14 crewed mission, docked with the combination of Tianhe core module and Tianzhou-3 cargo vessel in May.

With a length of 10.6 meters and a maximum diameter of 3.35 meters, the Tianzhou-4 cargo ship carried about 6 tonnes of goods and 750 kg of propellant for the space station complex.

Like previous cargo flights, the Tianzhou-4 mainly carried three categories of supplies, including living necessities for the Shenzhou-14 astronauts' six-month stay, spare parts for space station's maintenance, and space research equipment.

Colored tags were put on parcels with different goods, so that the astronauts can quickly identify and find the goods they need. 

China's manned spacecraft Shenzhou-14 was successfully launched into orbit from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on Sunday morning. Three taikonauts, Chen Dong, Liu Yang and Cai Xuzhe, will stay in orbit for six months and help complete the construction of China's space station by the end of this year.

The Shenzhou-14 is the first and will be the toughest manned mission during the construction of China's space station and has great significance, according to Huang Weifen, chief astronaut system designer of the China Manned Space Program.

Huang said that the crew – Chen Dong, Liu Yang and Cai Xuzhe – all selected from the second cohort of Chinese astronauts, are the most suitable.

"The three are all very diligent and careful and they have great team spirit and friendship among them," she said.

Huang told CGTN reporter Zheng Yibing that the crew received intensive training in more than 100 subjects in eight categories before their mission.

She unveiled the details of the Shenzhou-14 mission, saying that the three astronauts will test nine different formations for the assembly of the space station, will change the capsule position twice, and conduct five dockings and three separations and evacuations.

The chief astronaut system designer said that the crew will do two to three space walks using a combination of the airlock module, and big and small robot arms.

"They will for the first time enter the Wentian and the Mengtian space labs to unlock and test more than a dozen experimental boxes and many others," Huang said.

During their six-month stay, the trio will welcome the two lab modules, Wentian in July and Mengtian in October, and then the Tianzhou-5 cargo spacecraft. They will also rotate with the crew of the Shenzhou-15 manned spaceship in orbit before returning to Earth in December 2022.

She also praised the previous Shenzhou-12 and -13 missions, saying the crews are in very good condition. 

"Their excellent performances in orbit proved our effectiveness in selecting, training, and helping astronauts stay in space for a long time," said Huang, who earlier this year released the information that the Shenzhou-14 and -15 crews will live and work together in China's space station for a short period.

When asked about when international astronauts could join the missions at the China Space Station, the chief designer said that China has long been working with others, for example, the European Astronaut Centre, in selecting and training, medical monitoring and support and space foods.

"So, we've been making relevant technical preparations and discussing how we should select and train," she said.

"And many other countries, for example Pakistan, expressed willingness to join flight missions on the China Space Station. I believe there will certainly be a time for international astronauts to come," Huang Weifen said.

Read more about China's taikonauts of Shenzhou-14 mission

The three Chinese astronauts, Chen Dong, Liu Yang and Cai Xuzhe entered the Tianhe core module of China's space station at 8:50 p.m. (1250 GMT) from the return capsule of Shenzhou-14 manned spacecraft. 

They will stay in space for six months as part of the country's space station construction work.

Authorities at the Beijing Aerospace Control Center have declared the Shenzhou-14 launch a success. Taikonauts Chen Dong, Liu Yang and Cai Xuzhe are on board, headed for a six-month stay on China's Tiangong space station. Associate Professor Zhang Fan from the Astronomy Department of Beijing Normal University discusses the main tasks for the three taikonauts.

China's Shenzhou-14 crewed spaceship will dock with the space station module about 6.5 hours after blasting off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, while the three taikonauts will continue on with the construction of China's Tiangong space station. Let's take a quick look back at some of the key moments from the Shenzhou-14's launch.

China's Shenzhou-14 spaceship, with three astronauts aboard, has docked with Tianhe, the core module of the country's space station.

They are expected to stay in space for six months as part of the country's space station mission.

China's Shenzhou-14 mission has been launched with three Chinese astronauts aboard the Shenzhou-14 spaceship from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on Sunday. 

China on Sunday successfully launched the Shenzhou-14 crewed spacecraft.

The solar panels on China's Shenzhou-14 crewed spacecraft have successfully unfolded.

A Long March-2F carrier rocket, carrying the Shenzhou-14 spacecraft with three astronauts aboard, blasted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on Sunday.

The three astronauts have entered the module of the Shenzhou-14 spacecraft, which is scheduled to be launched in hours.

The three Taikonauts arrived at the launch pad for the Shenzhou-14 spacecraft.

The three astronauts are heading to the launch pad for the Shenzhou-14 spacecraft.

A send-off ceremony is being held at Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center for the three Chinese astronauts set to travel into space aboard the Shenzhou-14 spacecraft.

Three astronauts were selected for the Shenzhou-14 manned mission, which will be launched at 10:44 a.m. Beijing time on June 5. The crew is part of the second batch of astronauts China has trained. One made history as China's first woman in space. Shenzhou-14 marks the first manned space mission in the construction phase of China's space station. The three-member crew is expected to stay in orbit for six months. Like the previous missions, the Shenzhou-14 crew will give classes from space to youth on Earth. 

In 1992, China launched its space program with a three-step strategy, starting with sending taikonauts into space and then developing advanced flight techniques. The program has entered its third phase today – assembling and operating a permanent manned space station. Let's take a look at the highlights of Chinese space exploration over the past 30 years.

The China Manned Space Agency released on Saturday an 8K ultra-high-definition (UHD) video of some of the highlights of the Shenzhou-13 space mission.

Chinese astronauts recorded the video aboard the Shenzhou-13 crewed spaceship during their six-month space station mission.

China plans to send another crew of three astronauts to the Tianhe core module with the Shenzhou-14 crewed spacecraft for another six-month mission.

The Shenzhou-14 is the first and the toughest manned mission during China's space station construction phase and has great significance, according to Huang Weifen, chief astronaut system designer of the China Manned Space Program.

Huang said that the crew – Chen Dong, Liu Yang and Cai Xuzhe – selected from the second cohort of Chinese astronauts are the most suitable.

"The three are all very diligent and careful and they have great team spirit and friendship among them," she said.

CGTN's Zheng Yibing spoke to Huang, who talked about the personalities of the crew members and how the Shenzhou-14 mission will contribute to the construction of China's space station. 

The Shenzhou spacecraft series has been sending Chinese astronauts to space since 2003. But it was only last year that the missions became more frequent, as China began building its space station. CGTN speaks with the Shenzhou deputy chief designer ahead of 14th Shenzhou mission to space.

Three taikonauts will conduct a series of tasks and experiments during their six months on the China Space Station. China's Manned Space Engineering Office briefed the press earlier on the tasks that will be performed during that time.

Chen Dong, Liu Yang and Cai Xuzhe, the three Chinese taikonauts on the upcoming Shenzhou-14 mission, met the press on Saturday. The Shenzhou-14 crewed spaceship will lift off at around 10:44 a.m. Sunday (Beijing Time) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, the China Manned Space Agency announced earlier on Saturday. The trio will stay in orbit for six months and cooperate with ground control to complete several tasks.

China will send three taikonauts into low Earth orbit on June 5 to help complete the China Space Station. Professor Yang Yuguang of the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation says that the role of this mission is quite different from previous ones, and the Shenzhou-14 taikonauts will increase reliability of docking.

China's Shenzhou-14 manned spacecraft will be launched on Sunday from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. China's space station has been an important part of the country's space program. Let's take a look at its construction so far.

China will launch its Shenzhou-14 crewed spaceship on Sunday, the China Manned Space Engineering Office (CMSEO) said at a press conference on Saturday. The spaceship will take a crew of three astronauts into space to continue building China's Tiangong space station, said Lin Xiqiang, CMSEO deputy director.

Chinese astronauts Chen Dong, Liu Yang, and Cai Xuzhe will board the Shenzhou-14 manned spaceship scheduled to be launched at 10:44 Sunday (Beijing Time) from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China, announced the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) on Saturday.

Cai Xuzhe, who flies to space for the first time, said at a press conference on Saturday that he has prepared for the mission for 12 years, looking forward to the trip.

CGTN's Zheng Yibing spoke to Liu Haibo, a senior expert with the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, about the carrier rocket that will be used for the Shenzhou-14 mission. 

The three astronauts set to carry out China's Shenzhou-14 manned spacecraft mission, Chen Dong, Liu Yang and Cai Xuzhe, are meeting the press at Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China.  

The Shenzhou-14 crewed spaceship is scheduled to be launched on Sunday.  

China will launch its Shenzhou-14 crewed spaceship on June 5, the China Manned Space Engineering Office said at a press conference on Saturday. Astronauts Chen Dong, Liu Yang and Cai Xuzhe have been selected to carry out the mission. The Shenzhou-14 crewed spaceship will be launched on Sunday from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China.

China will launch its Shenzhou-14 crewed spaceship on Sunday, the China Manned Space Engineering Office said at a press conference on Saturday.   

The Shenzhou-14 spaceship is scheduled to be launched at 10:44 Beijing Time from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China.

Chinese astronauts Chen Dong, Liu Yang and Cai Xuzhe have been selected to carry out the Shenzhou-14 space mission, the China Manned Space Engineering Office said at a press conference on Saturday.

The Shenzhou-14 crewed spaceship will be launched on Sunday from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China.

China is planning to launch its Shenzhou-14 spacecraft in June, taking three astronauts to its space station. At the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, a couple is working on key tasks for the mission. CGTN's Zheng Yibing talked to them about their life and work there.

Getting instant images and data throughout space launch missions is very important for the launch to be successful. This job is done through coordination of various tracking and monitoring stations.

At the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center where the Shenzhou-14 manned space craft is scheduled for lift-off in June, CGTN reporter Zheng Yibing visited a station equipped with multiple types of devices, like the optical telescope.

"We are mainly responsible for tracking live images during space missions, like target detection of the carrier rocket and the measurement of its position in space," said engineer Yu Shilong.

The system that he works on requires great skill and precise mechanisms.

"We did lots of training before and after we got this job. That's the only way to learn to conduct stable tracking of a flying object," Yu said.

Many are working with him as the team has a long history in serving the Shenzhou missions.

"Our devices are specifically used for manned missions. We've done this in all previous Shenzhou missions, from the very first in the 1990s to the 13th that blasted off last year. And now, we are getting ready for the 14th," he said.

In this station, there are multiple spots that are going to work together to track and monitor the Shenzhou-14 in flight and there is a command post there to coordinate them.

"We collect data and images from various tracking spots here and gather information on working conditions of the devices used in them," said engineer Jia Jianglei.

"All our tracking and monitoring data and images will be sent to the command center at the launch site. The information, in particular, the radar data, will guide other tracking and monitoring devices," he added.

Jia said that these will be essential references for the command center for the whole mission to monitor and make decisions and responses to make the Shenzhou-14 manned mission a success.

The carrier rocket that will send another three astronauts to China's space station was moved onto the launch pad at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the northwest on Sunday. Join CGTN reporter Zheng Yibing to have a look at that moment.

Watch: A closer look at the launch site for China's Shenzhou manned missions

China's crewed spaceship Shenzhou-14, atop a Long March-2F carrier rocket, was vertically transferred to the launchpad at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on Sunday, according to the China Manned Space Engineering Office (CMSEO). 

The Shenzhou-14 crewed spacecraft will send three astronauts to the Tianhe core module of China's space station in June for a six-month mission, said Huang Weifen, the chief designer of the astronaut system for China's manned space project, at a press conference on April 17. 

The combo of spaceship and rocket, which weighs 39 tonnes and has a total altitude of nearly 60 meters, was seen slowly leaving the final assembly test building and approaching the launch tower after traveling 1.5 kilometers on the seamless rail especially built to prevent vibrations. After about one and a half hours, the combination moved closer to the launch tower and the rotary platform slowly closed.

All the facilities and equipment at the launch center are in good condition now, and various prelaunch functional checks and joint tests will be carried out as scheduled, the CMSEO said.

Zhang Fusheng, chief designer for the manned spacecraft system, told China Media Group (CMG) that "we have completed all the final assembly and tests including the propellant filling of the spacecraft. We will conduct a large-scale system interface test on the rocket system, and then proceed to a whole system drill which marks the entry of the combo into the prelaunch status."

China Space Station Mission 2022

A total of six space flight missions will be carried out in 2022 to complete the construction of China's space station, forming a T-shaped complex in the coming October. After the launch of the Tianzhou-4 cargo spaceship in May and the launch of the Shenzhou-14 manned spacecraft in June, the Wentian lab module will dock with the Tianhe core module in July and the Mengtian lab module in October. The Tianzhou-5 cargo spacecraft and the Shenzhou-15 manned spacecraft will then follow, taking another three astronauts to stay in orbit for six months.

In addition, China also plans to launch its first large Chinese Space Station Telescope (CSST), or Xuntian, meaning "survey to heavens," in 2023.

The Shenzhou-14 manned mission for China's space station is scheduled for June 2022. CGTN's Zheng Yibing is at the launch site in northwest China and brings a closer look at the only launchpad for manned missions in China.