Shenzhou 18
Seventh flight to Tiangong, coincided with orbital population record.
Shenzhou 18 was a Chinese spaceflight to the Tiangong space station, launched on 25 April 2024. It carried three People's Liberation Army Astronaut Corps taikonauts and was the thirteenth crewed Chinese spaceflight and the eighteenth flight overall of the Shenzhou program. While in orbit, the mission coincided with the record for the most people simultaneously in orbit, which reached 19 on 11 September 2024 following the Soyuz MS-26 and Polaris Dawn missions.
Quick Facts
- Mission Type
- Tiangong space station crew transport
- Operator
- China Manned Space Agency
- Spacecraft Type
- Shenzhou
- Manufacturer
- China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation
- Crew Size
- 3
- Crew Members
- Ye Guangfu / Li Cong / Li Guangsu
- Crew Evas
- 2
- Crew Eva Duration
- 14 hours, 55 minutes
- Launch Date
- 25 April 2024, 12:59:00 UTC (20:59:00 CST)
- Launch Rocket
- Long March 2F/G (Y18)
- Launch Site
- Jiuquan, LA-4/SLS-1
- Launch Contractor
- China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Shenzhou 18 launched on 25 April 2024 at 12:59 UTC from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center aboard a Long March 2F rocket. It docked at the nadir port of the Tianhe core module approximately 6.5 hours later. The crew consisted of Commander Ye Guangfu, who became the second person to visit Tiangong twice, having previously flown on Shenzhou 13, along with Li Cong and Li Guangsu, both former pilots. Li Cong was responsible for station experiments and health maintenance, while Li Guangsu handled station maintenance and experiments.
Reader's Guide
Shenzhou 18 is significant as the seventh crewed mission to the Tiangong space station, continuing China's sustained human presence in orbit. Its crew conducted two notable spacewalks: on 28 May 2024, Ye Guangfu and Li Guangsu performed China's longest spacewalk to date, lasting approximately 8.5 hours to install debris protection shields and inspect the station. A second spacewalk on 3 July 2024 saw Ye Guangfu and Li Cong install further debris shields. The mission also contributed to the record of 19 people simultaneously in orbit, a milestone set after the Soyuz MS-26 and Polaris Dawn launches. Shenzhou 18 returned to Earth on 3 November 2024, departing after the arrival of Shenzhou 19.
Did You Know?
- Shenzhou 18 launched on 25 April 2024 and returned on 3 November 2024.
- The crew included Ye Guangfu, the second person to visit Tiangong space station twice.
- On 28 May 2024, Ye Guangfu and Li Guangsu performed a spacewalk lasting about 8.5 hours, though it was not China's longest at the time—that record remained at 7.5 hours from Shenzhou 16.
- The mission was in orbit when a record of 19 people simultaneously in orbit was set on 11 September 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Shenzhou 18?
Shenzhou 18 is the eighteenth flight in China's Shenzhou program and its thirteenth crewed mission, delivering three PLA Astronaut Corps taikonauts to the Tiangong space station. It launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on 25 April 2024.
When did Shenzhou 18 return to Earth?
The crew came home on 3 November 2024, after roughly six months living and working aboard Tiangong.
What made Shenzhou 18's timeline notable?
While the Shenzhou 18 crew was aboard Tiangong, the total number of humans simultaneously in space reached a record 19 on 11 September 2024, a milestone driven by the Soyuz MS-26 and Polaris Dawn missions overlapping with the Chinese crew.
Where did Shenzhou 18 launch from?
The spacecraft lifted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi Desert, China's traditional site for crewed Shenzhou departures.
How many people flew on Shenzhou 18?
Three taikonauts from the People's Liberation Army Astronaut Corps rode aboard the spacecraft to Tiangong.
More in Crewed Shenzhou missions 1-19
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