China Aerospace Science and Technology CorporationLong March 2F/GLaunch Area 91 (SLS-1 / 921), Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
Shenzhou 23
Launched
May 24, 2026 · 15:08 UTC
Image: Xinhua
Summary
Shenzhou 23 launched on a China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation Long March 2F/G from Launch Area 91 (SLS-1 / 921), Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China on May 24, 2026 at 15:08 UTC. The launch window ran from 14:58 to 15:38 UTC. It was China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation's 591st launch, 21st this year and humanity's 7,291st orbital launch attempt. It was the 22nd Long March 2F/G flight and the 2nd this year. The payload was bound for low Earth orbit (LEO). Shenzhou 23, one of 2 catalogued objects, reached a 388 × 403 km orbit inclined 41.5°. 3 crew members flew: Zhu Yangzhu, Zhang Zhiyuan and Lai Ka-ying. The spacecraft was Shenzhou 23 (23). 2 objects from this launch are catalogued, one of them a payload.
- Watch
- Vehicle
- Long March 2F/G · China Aerospace Science and Technology CorporationShenzhou, Tiangong space station
- Booster
- No booster details on record.
- Mission
- Human Exploration · Low Earth Orbit (LEO)for CNSA
- Milestone
- 22nd Long March 2F/G flight · 2nd this yearChina Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation's 591st launch21st this yearhumanity's 7,291st orbital launch attempt118th orbital launch attempt this year
Crew
Zhu YangzhuCommander · CNSA · age 39 · 2nd flight
Zhang ZhiyuanOperator · CNSA · age 39 · first flight
Lai Ka-yingOperator · CNSA · age 43 · first flight
Spacecraft
Shenzhou 23 (23)
Spacecraft used to launch 3 astronauts on the 11th crewed mission to the Chinese Space Station.
- Destination: Tiangong space station
- Docked May 24, 2026 at Tianhe nadir
The Shenzhou 23 spacecraft will land at the Donfgeng landing site in Inner Mongolia, China.
Webcast
Flight preview
Orbit: as tracked
Shenzhou 23 · NORAD 69180 · 2026-113 · Space-Track · tracking 1 of 2 objects
Show the numbers for orbit elements
- Object
- SHENZHOU-23
- Object ID
- 2026-113A
- Epoch
- 2026-05-25 12:15:22 UTC
- Mean motion
- 15.598109 rev/day
- Eccentricity
- 0.00110508
- Inclination
- 41.4679°
- Ascending node
- 99.9009°
- Arg. of perigee
- 279.1269°
- Mean anomaly
- 80.8319°
- Element set
- 999
- Rev at epoch
- 28965
- B*
- 0.00017905302
Perigee, apogee and period are Kepler figures from the catalogued mean elements, not a propagated state. Published orbit: LEO.
Catalogued objects
2 catalogued: 1 payload, 1 rocket stage
- Shenzhou 23 · NORAD 69180 · docked May 24, 2026
CZ-2F Y23 Stage 2 · re-entered June 7, 2026
Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org
About this launch
Shenzhou 23 will be the 23rd flight of the Shenzhou program.
Pad
Launch Area 91 (SLS-1 / 921), Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
29th launch from Launch Area 91 (SLS-1 / 921), 2nd this year · 286th from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
Local pad time at liftoff: May 24, 11:08 PM GMT+8, at night
29 launches from this pad · 299 from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
106 days after the previous launch from this pad
All launches from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of ChinaOpen in maps
Updates
Questions
When did Shenzhou 23 launch?
Shenzhou 23 launched on May 24, 2026 at 15:08 UTC. The launch window ran from 14:58 to 15:38 UTC.
Where can I watch Shenzhou 23?
Coverage: Live: Special coverage of China's Shenzhou-23 crewed spacecraft launch; LIVE: Special Coverage of China's Shenzhou-23 Crewed Spacecraft Launch; LIVE: China to launch astronauts to Tiangong space station on Shenzhou-23 spacecraft. Watch the replay
What rocket launched Shenzhou 23?
Long March 2F/G, flown by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. Long March 2F/G spec sheet
Where did Shenzhou 23 launch from?
Launch Area 91 (SLS-1 / 921), Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China. Liftoff was May 24, 11:08 PM GMT+8 local time at the pad.
What orbit did Shenzhou 23 reach?
Shenzhou 23, one of 2 catalogued objects, reached a 388 × 403 km orbit inclined 41.5°.
Which program is Shenzhou 23 part of?
Shenzhou and Tiangong space station. About Shenzhou