Shenzhou-20 crew's arrival marks a new chapter in space research

• The Shenzhou-20 crew arrived at the Tiangong station after a six-hour flight.
• The mission will last until the end of October, including scientific experiments.
• The return of the Shenzhou-19 crew is scheduled for 29 April.

Three Chinese taikonauts participating in the Shenzhou-20 mission reached the Tiangong space station after a flight of more than six hours. The launch took place from the Jiuquan spaceport in the Gobi Desert, and the crew departed on Thursday at 5:20 PM local time.

During the mission, which will last until the end of October, the Shenzhou-20 crew will conduct a series of scientific experiments. One of these will be the study of tissue regeneration in planarians—a type of flatworm capable of organ regeneration. This research aims to enhance understanding of treating space travel-related injuries.

The Shenzhou-19 mission crew, currently at the Tiangong station, opened the station hatch to welcome the new mission commander, experienced taikonaut Chen Dong, along with first-time space travellers Chen Zhongrui and Wang Jie. According to the China daily, the hatch was opened at 1:17 AM Beijing time.

The return of the Shenzhou-19 crew, whose mission began on 30 October last year, is scheduled for 29 April.

The launch of the Shenzhou-20 mission coincided with the celebration of the 10th Space Day in China, highlighting the country's growing involvement in space exploration. The China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) supervises these activities, aiming for further advancement in space technology.

The Shenzhou-20 mission is another step in China's ambitious space programme, which includes further research and development of space technologies. Experiments conducted on the Tiangong station could contribute to advances in space medicine and many other scientific fields.