BEIJING, April 24. /TASS/. The China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) on Thursday launched the Shenzhou-20 spacecraft with three taikonauts on board. The launch was broadcast live from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northern China.

The Changzheng-2F/G carrier rocket is now carrying the taikonauts to the Tiangong space station. The current crew replaces the previous Shenzhou-19 mission, which was at the station for six months. The launch took place at 5:17 p.m. Beijing time (9:17 a.m. GMT) on Space Day, which is celebrated in China on April 24.