Long March-2F rocket, Shenzhou-17 spacecraft transported to launch pad

Video from the channel CGTN about Long March 2F/G, linked on its Above Ten Thousand entry. Duration: 2:24. Language: English. Video type: News.

The Chinese network CGTN reports on the rollout of the Long March 2F, with the Shenzhou 17 spacecraft on top, from the technical area to the launch pad at the Jiuquan launch centre. It is a journey of about 1.5 km that takes around an hour and a half.

The reporter notes that this rocket, with four strap-on boosters, almost 60 m long and about 480 t at liftoff, is China's main launcher for crewed flights. Since the Chinese space station became fully operational, the Shenzhou–Long March combination has launched twice a year to begin a new mission.

With the rocket now on the launch pad, what remains are the joint checks and tests ahead of the launch of the crewed Shenzhou 17 mission.