CCTV News: On May 16, at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in China, the Shenzhou-23 manned spacecraft and the Long March-2F Yao-23 carrier rocket assembly were transferred to the launch area and are planned to be launched in the near future.
At about 8:30 a.m., the Shenzhou 23 ship-rocket assembly was lifted out of the final assembly and testing plant by the movable launch platform, and smoothly sailed toward the launch tower through vertical transfer. Since the Shenzhou-23 manned spacecraft and the Long March-2F Yao-23 carrier rocket arrived at the launch site, the technical team has carried out multiple tasks such as vertical assembly and vertical testing in parallel.
China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation Xu Zheyao: We will carry out three tests, including functional inspection of the launch area, circuit inspection of ignition and emergency shutdown, and a full-system launch drill. After that, we will arrange a full-system gas inspection and propellant filling work.
Tian Ruonan, CCTV reporter: This is the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. Behind me, the Shenzhou 23 ship-rocket assembly has arrived at the launch station, and the vertical transfer work has been successfully completed. This means that the preliminary assembly and testing of the rocket and spacecraft in the technical area have been completed, and the launch preparation phase has officially entered.
At present, the launch site facilities and equipment are in good condition, and various pre-launch functional inspections, joint tests and other work will be carried out as planned.
