Shenzhou XVII mission to begin soon

Jing's team has been in orbit for nearly five months and will return to Earth several days after the Shenzhou XVII crew arrives.

The new crew will be tasked with conducting scientific experiments and technological tests, the agency said.

Orbiting about 400 kilometers above the ground, the Tiangong currently consists of three major components — the Tianhe core module and the Wentian and Mengtian science lab modules — and is connected with two visiting craft, the Shenzhou XVI crew ship and the Tianzhou 6 cargo ship.