See-off ceremony held for Shenzhou-16 astronauts heading for China Space Station

A see-off ceremony for the three Shenzhou-16 astronauts set to travel to the China Space Station was held on Tuesday morning at Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).

At the command of Xu Xueqiang, commander-in-chief of China's manned space program, astronauts Jing Haipeng, Zhu Yangzhu and Gui Haichao set off at 6:44 a.m. Beijing Time.

The Shenzhou-16 spaceship is expected to be launched at 9:31 a.m. on Tuesday from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, the CMSA said on Monday.

The Shenzhou-15 crew has been working and living in-orbit for half a year and is preparing for the upcoming Shenzhou-16 trio.

(CGTN)