China holds astronaut farewell ceremony ahead of Shenzhou-18 launch

Farewell ceremony held ahead of the launch of China's Shenzhou-18 mission, crewed by three astronauts headed to its Tiangong space station from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China.

The mission is led by Ye Guangfu, a fighter pilot and astronaut who was previously part of the Shenzhou-13 crew in 2021.

He is joined by astronauts Li Cong and Li Guangsu, who are heading into space for the first time.