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Shenzhou-11 astronauts enter Tiangong-2 space lab

October 19, 2016

Source: Xinhua | 2016-10-19 07:28:51 | Editor: huaxia  

 

Photo taken on Oct. 19, 2016 shows the screen at the Beijing Aerospace Control Center showing Chinese astronaut Jing Haipeng entering the space lab Tiangong-2. The two astronauts onboard the Shenzhou-11 spacecraft entered the space lab Tiangong-2 Wednesday morning. (Xinhua/Ju Zhenhua)


BEIJING, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- The two astronauts aboard the Shenzhou-11 spacecraft entered the space lab Tiangong-2 at 6:32 Wednesday morning Beijing Time, according to Beijing Aerospace Control Center (BACC).


Commander of the mission Jing Haipeng opened the hatch of Tiangong-2 and floated into the space lab, followed later by Chen Dong.


The two astronauts extended greetings to all the people of the nation in the space lab, and checked the status of the space complex formed by Shenzhou-11 and Tiangong-2.


Before entering the space lab, the two astronauts entered Shenzhou-11's orbital compartment and removed their intravehicular mobility unit spacesuits to change into blue jumpsuits.


They will live in the space lab for 30 days before returning to Earth.


Shenzhou-11 was launched on Monday morning from northwest China's Gobi Desert.


It approached Tiangong-2 and automatically docked with the space lab at 3:31 a.m. Wednesday.