LAUNCH OF CHINA’S SHENZHOU-16 CREW, May 29, 2023, China, 9:31 pm ET

Update, May 28, 9:30 pm ET:  China’s Xinhua press agency just confirmed the launch is on May 30, 9:31 am Beijing Time, which is 01:31 UTC on May 30, or 9:31 pm EDT on May 29.

The Shenzhou-16 crewed spaceship is scheduled to be launched at 9:31 a.m. Tuesday (Beijing Time) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China: China Manned Space Agency pic.twitter.com/59HuhRa3Cv

— China Xinhua Sci-Tech (@XHscitech) May 29, 2023

Original Entry: China is getting ready to launch its next crew, Shenzhou-16, to the Tiangong-3 space station. They will relieve the Shenzhou-15 crew that is finishing a 6-month mission. It will be China’s second crew exchange.

As usual, China has not announced the exact launch date, but Bob Christy of @OrbitalFocus has calculated a likely launch time of May 30, 2023 at 01:31:15 UTC (May 29, 9:31:15 pm EDT) ± 10 seconds.

Shenzhou 16
Mar 30, 01:31:15 UTC ±10 seconds
CZ 2F
Jiuquan SC

Crew to China space station

Date confirmed

Nav warning zones identical to SZ 15, indicating that launch vehicle will follow SE track with a ‘dog leg’ to left#China #Shenzhou16 #CSS #news #Tiangong@SpcPlcyOnline

— Orbital Focus (@OrbitalFocus) May 25, 2023

China’s CGTN television network typically provides live coverage of these types of launches.