Shenzhou XXI blasts off, on way to space station

After all preparations are done, Chen Dong's team would open a hatch in the connection cabin to let the arriving trio float in.

The two teams will stay together for several days for transition work, after which the Shenzhou XX astronauts will depart and return to Earth, according to mission planners.

The Shenzhou XXI crew is conducting China's 16th manned spaceflight and has become the 10th group of residents aboard the Tiangong, which is currently the only operational space station independently run by a single nation.

During their orbital stay, the Shenzhou XXI astronauts will carry out various tasks, including conducting scientific experiments and applications; going on spacewalks to install space debris shield equipment and other instruments; deploying and retrieving devices from outside the space station; and giving science lectures.