Shenzhou XVII mission heads for space station

The Shenzhou XVII astronauts are scheduled to live and work inside the space station for around six months before they return to Earth around April.

The new crew's tasks will include carrying out scientific experiments and technological demonstrations, conducting spacewalks to install equipment and maintain the massive orbital outpost, checking the space station's operational performance and obtaining relevant data, and helping review the support capabilities of ground facilities, according to Lin Xiqiang, deputy director of the China Manned Space Agency.

In addition to these routine tasks, there will be a new assignment for the Shenzhou XVII crew members — they will perform experimental repair operations during their spacewalks, the official said on Wednesday at a news conference at the launch center.