The Long March-2F rocket carrying the Shenzhou-12 spacecraft lifts off Thursday from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northern China. Photo: The Paper

Astronauts Liu Boming (left), Nie Haisheng (center) and Tang Hongbo (right) wave as they prepare to get to the boarding site at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on Thursday. Photo: VCG

Astronaut Nei Haisheng waves while preparing to board at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on Thursday. Photo: VCG

Astronaut Yang Liwei, the first person sent into space by the nation’s space program, sits in the reentry capsule of Shenzhou-5 in 2003. Photo: VCG

Astronauts of the Shenzhou-6, Fei Junlong (left) and Nei Haisheng (right) inspect a spacesuit at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. Photo: VCG

Zhai Zhigang, one of the astronauts of the Shenzhou-7 mission, carries out a spacewalk with the national flag in 2008. Photo: VCG

Astronauts of Shenzhou-9 mission, Liu Wang (left), Jin Haipeng (center) and Liu Yang (right) undergo simulation training in a reentry capsule. Photo: VCG

Liu Yang was China’s first female astronaut to go into space as part of the Shenzhou-9 mission. Photo: VCG

Wang Yaping, one of the astronauts of the Shenzhou-10 mission, practices in a centrifuge to prepare for the mission. Photo: VCG

Chen Dong, one of the astronauts of the Shenzhou-11 mission, shares the space travelling experience at his alma mater in Luoyang, Central China’s Henan province, in 2017. Photo: VCG

People walk toward a board displaying photos of Chinese astronauts on Wednesday at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. Photo: VCG