Shenzhou-12 crew begins three-month mission

The Shenzhou-12 crew, astronauts Nie Haisheng (commander), Liu Boming and Tang Hongbo, opened the hatch and entered the Tianhe core module on 17 June 2021, at 10:48 UTC (18:48 China Standard Time). Shenzhou-12 (神舟十二号) will spend three months attached to the Tianhe core module (天和核心舱), the first and main component of the China Space Station (中国空间站), informally known as Tiangong (天宫, Heavenly Palace). Credit: China Central Television (CCTV)/China National Space Administration (CNSA)