Engineering:Shenzhou 18
| Mission type | Tiangong space station crew transport |
|---|---|
| Operator | China Manned Space Agency |
| Mission duration | 180 days (planned) |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft type | Shenzhou |
| Manufacturer | China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation |
| Crew | |
| Crew size | 3 |
| Members | TBA |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 2024 (planned) |
| Rocket | Long March 2F |
| Launch site | Jiuquan, LA-4/SLS |
| Contractor | China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology |
| End of mission | |
| Landing date | Late 2024 (planned) |
| Landing site | Inner Mongolia, China |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric orbit |
| Regime | Low Earth orbit |
| Inclination | 41.5° |
| Docking with Tiangong space station | |
| Docking port | Tianhe nadir |
| Docking date | 2024 (planned) |
| Undocking date | Late 2024 (planned) |
| Time docked | 180 days (planned) |
Shenzhou 18 (Chinese: 神舟十八号; pinyin: Shénzhōu Shíbā-hào; literally: 'Divine Boat Number 18') is a planned Chinese spaceflight to the Tiangong space station, expected to launch in April 2024, near the end of the Shenzhou 17 mission. It will carry three taikonauts on board a Shenzhou spacecraft. The mission will be the thirteenth crewed Chinese spaceflight and the eighteenth flight overall of the Shenzhou program.[1]
Background
Shenzhou 18 is expected to launch prior to the completion of the previous mission, Shenzhou 17, however no specific date has been announced as of January 2024. It is planned to last about six months, as is standard with Shenzhou missions to Tiangong. It will depart following the arrival of the Shenzhou 19 crew.
Mission
The mission will launch from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on board a Long March 2F rocket. The Shenzhou spacecraft will dock to the Tianhe core module of the station, where the crew will enter prior to the departure of Shenzhou 17.
Crew
| Position | Crew member | |
|---|---|---|
| Commander |  TBA, CMSA
| |
| Operator | TBA, CMSA
| |
| System Operator | TBA, CMSA
| |
As of January 2024, no crew has been announced for Shenzhou 18.
References
- ↑ published, Andrew Jones (2023-11-22). "China's next cargo spacecraft arrives at launch site ahead of early 2024 liftoff" (in en). https://www.space.com/china-tianzhou-7-cargo-spacecraft-arrives-launch-site.
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