The Shenzhou XVII mission is set to launch on Thursday morning to transport a three-member crew to the Tiangong space station.

▲ Chinese astronauts Tang Hongbo (C), Tang Shengjie (R) and Jiang Xinlin will carry out the Shenzhou XVII spaceflight mission. [Photo/Xinhua]

Mission commander Senior Colonel Tang Hongbo, Lieutenant Colonel Tang Shengjie and Lieutenant Colonel Jiang Xinlin have been scheduled to ride onboard the Shenzhou XVII spaceship to be lifted by a Long March 2F carrier rocket at 11:14 am on Thursday from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.