# Shenzhou 17

> 2023 Chinese crewed spaceflight to the Tiangong space station

**Wikidata**: [Q118864589](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q118864589)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shenzhou_17)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/shenzhou-17

## Summary
Shenzhou 17 was a 2023 Chinese crewed spaceflight mission to the Tiangong space station, operated by the China National Space Administration. Launched on October 26, 2023, the mission transported three crew members to low Earth orbit for a six-month duration, marking the twelfth crewed flight of the Shenzhou program.

## Key Facts
- **Launch Date:** October 26, 2023, at 03:14:02 UTC.
- **Landing Date:** April 30, 2024, at 09:46 UTC.
- **Mission Duration:** 269,672 minutes (approximately 187 days).
- **Crew:** Tang Hongbo (Commander), Tang Shengjie, and Jiang Xinlin.
- **Destination:** Tiangong space station (specifically the Tianhe core module forward port).
- **Launch Vehicle:** Long March 2F (serial number Y17).
- **Operator:** China National Space Administration (CNSA).
- **Manufacturer:** China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC).
- **Preceded By:** Shenzhou 16.
- **Followed By:** Shenzhou 18.

## FAQs
### Q: Who were the crew members of Shenzhou 17?
A: The crew consisted of three members: Tang Hongbo served as the spacecraft commander, accompanied by operators Tang Shengjie and Jiang Xinlin.

### Q: When did Shenzhou 17 launch and land?
A: The mission launched on October 26, 2023, at 03:14:02 UTC from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center and successfully landed on April 30, 2024, at 09:46 UTC.

### Q: What was the primary objective of Shenzhou 17?
A: The mission was a human spaceflight instance of the China Manned Space Program designed to transport a crew to the Tiangong space station in low Earth orbit, where it docked at the forward port of the Tianhe module.

## Why It Matters
Shenzhou 17 represents a critical continuation of the China Manned Space Program and the operational phase of the Tiangong space station. As the sixth crewed mission to the station, it maintained the continuous human presence required for long-term scientific research and station maintenance. The mission highlighted China's capability to perform routine crew rotations using the Shenzhou spacecraft class and Long March 2F launch vehicles. By successfully completing a mission duration of over 269,000 minutes, Shenzhou 17 contributed to the accumulation of data necessary for future long-duration deep space exploration. It served as the bridge between the Shenzhou 16 and Shenzhou 18 missions, ensuring the seamless transition of station control and ongoing experiments in low Earth orbit.

## Notable For
- **Mission Duration:** Completed a total mission duration of 269,672 minutes, reflecting the standard six-month rotation cycle for the Tiangong space station.
- **Rapid Docking:** The spacecraft docked with the Tiangong space station on the same day as its launch (October 26, 2023).
- **Specific Landing Coordinates:** The mission concluded with a precise landing at coordinates 41.604°N, 100.069°E.
- **COSPAR ID:** Registered under the international designation 2023-164A.
- **Launch Vehicle Variant:** Utilized the Long March 2F launch vehicle, specifically the Y17 serial number.

## Body

### Mission Overview
Shenzhou 17 was a human spaceflight mission that launched on October 26, 2023. Manufactured by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, the spacecraft was part of the Shenzhou class of crewed vessels. The mission was an instance of a space mission aimed at low Earth orbit, specifically targeting the Tiangong space station. It followed the Shenzhou 16 mission and was succeeded by Shenzhou 18 in 2024.

### Launch and Docking
The mission utilized a Long March 2F rocket (serial Y17) to launch from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. The launch event occurred precisely at 03:14:02 on October 26, 2023. Following the rocket launch, the spacecraft successfully docked with the forward port of the Tianhe core module at the Tiangong space station. Docking was completed on the same day, October 26, 2023.

### Crew and Operations
The Shenzhou 17 carried a crew of three taikonauts:
- **Tang Hongbo:** Designated as the spacecraft commander.
- **Tang Shengjie:** Crew member.
- **Jiang Xinlin:** Crew member.

The crew operated the vessel as part of the China Manned Space Program under the administration of the China National Space Administration.

### Undocking and Landing
The spacecraft undocked from the Tianhe forward port on April 30, 2024, at 00:43 UTC. The mission concluded with a landing on April 30, 2024, at 09:46 UTC. The landing site was located at latitude 41.604166 and longitude 100.068888.

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