Astronauts of China's Shenzhou-17 mission meet press

Chinese astronauts Tang Hongbo (C), Tang Shengjie (R) and Jiang Xinlin for the upcoming Shenzhou-17 spaceflight mission meet the press at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on Oct. 25, 2023. (Xinhua/Li Gang)

JIUQUAN, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Tang Hongbo, Tang Shengjie, and Jiang Xinlin, the three Chinese astronauts for the upcoming Shenzhou-17 spaceflight mission, met the press on Wednesday.

The Shenzhou-17 crewed spaceship is expected to be launched at 11:14 a.m. Thursday (Beijing Time) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, the China Manned Space Agency announced earlier at a press conference on Wednesday.

Tang Hongbo, one of the three Chinese astronauts who will carry out the Shenzhou-17 spaceflight mission, meets the press at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on Oct. 25, 2023. (Xinhua/Li Gang)

Tang Shengjie, one of the three Chinese astronauts who will carry out the Shenzhou-17 spaceflight mission, meets the press at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on Oct. 25, 2023. (Xinhua/Li Gang)

Jiang Xinlin, one of the three Chinese astronauts who will carry out the Shenzhou-17 spaceflight mission, meets the press at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on Oct. 25, 2023. (Xinhua/Li Gang)

Chinese astronauts Tang Hongbo (C), Tang Shengjie (R) and Jiang Xinlin for the upcoming Shenzhou-17 spaceflight mission meet the press at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on Oct. 25, 2023. (Xinhua/Li Gang)

Chinese astronauts Tang Hongbo (C), Tang Shengjie (R) and Jiang Xinlin for the upcoming Shenzhou-17 spaceflight mission meet the press at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on Oct. 25, 2023. (Xinhua/Li Gang)

Chinese astronauts Tang Hongbo (C), Tang Shengjie (R) and Jiang Xinlin for the upcoming Shenzhou-17 spaceflight mission meet the press at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on Oct. 25, 2023. (Xinhua/Li Zhipeng)

Chinese astronauts Tang Hongbo (C), Tang Shengjie (R) and Jiang Xinlin for the upcoming Shenzhou-17 spaceflight mission meet the press at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on Oct. 25, 2023. (Xinhua/Li Gang)

Chinese astronauts Tang Hongbo (C), Tang Shengjie (R) and Jiang Xinlin for the upcoming Shenzhou-17 spaceflight mission meet the press at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on Oct. 25, 2023. (Xinhua/Li Gang)

Chinese astronauts Tang Hongbo (C), Tang Shengjie (R) and Jiang Xinlin for the upcoming Shenzhou-17 spaceflight mission meet the press at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on Oct. 25, 2023. (Xinhua/Li Zhipeng)

Chinese astronauts Tang Hongbo (C), Tang Shengjie (R) and Jiang Xinlin for the upcoming Shenzhou-17 spaceflight mission meet the press at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on Oct. 25, 2023. (Xinhua/Li Gang)

Chinese astronauts Tang Hongbo, Tang Shengjie and Jiang Xinlin for the upcoming Shenzhou-17 spaceflight mission meet the press at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on Oct. 25, 2023. (Xinhua/Li Gang)

Chinese astronauts Tang Hongbo (C), Tang Shengjie (R) and Jiang Xinlin for the upcoming Shenzhou-17 spaceflight mission meet the press at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on Oct. 25, 2023. (Xinhua/Li Gang)

Chinese astronauts Tang Hongbo (C), Tang Shengjie (R) and Jiang Xinlin for the upcoming Shenzhou-17 spaceflight mission meet the press at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on Oct. 25, 2023. (Xinhua/Li Gang)

Chinese astronauts Tang Hongbo (C), Tang Shengjie (R) and Jiang Xinlin for the upcoming Shenzhou-17 spaceflight mission meet the press at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on Oct. 25, 2023. (Xinhua/Li Gang)