At 20:59 on April 25, 2024, Beijing time, the Long March 2 F Yao 18 carrier rocket carrying the Shenzhou 18 manned spacecraft was ignited and launched at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. About 10 minutes later, the Shenzhou 18 manned The spacecraft successfully separated from the rocket and entered the scheduled orbit. At present, the astronaut crew is in good condition and the launch has been a complete success.

After the spacecraft enters orbit, it will conduct autonomous and rapid rendezvous and docking with the space station assembly in accordance with the predetermined procedures. The Shenzhou 18 astronaut crew will rotate with the Shenzhou 17 astronaut crew in orbit. During the working and living period of the space station, the Shenzhou 18 astronaut crew will carry out many out-of-cabin activities, carry out practical (test) tests and applications in the fields of microgravity basic physics, space material science, space life science, space medicine, and space technology, and complete various tasks such as the installation of space station debris protection and reinforcement devices, the installation and recovery of extravehicular loads and extravehicular platform equipment.

This mission is the third manned mission for my country's manned space project to enter the application and development stage of the space station. It is the 32nd launch mission since the project was approved and implemented, and it is also the 518th flight of the Long March series of carrier rockets.

At present, the space station assembly has entered the docking orbit and is in good working condition, meeting the conditions for rendezvous and docking with the Shenzhou 18 manned spacecraft and the stationing of astronauts.