BEIJING: Three Chinese astronauts, or taikonauts, have sent birthday wishes to the Communist Party of China (CPC) from space, ahead of the CPC Centenary.
Nie Haisheng, Liu Boming and Tang Hongbo are the first Chinese astronauts to live and work in the country’s space station, which is currently under construction.
Three astronauts were entered the space station that China is developing as they begin a three-month mission there, state-backed broadcaster CGTN reported.
Shenzhou-12, the Chinese rocket carrying the three astronauts, took off on last Thursday. The astronauts will spend their time in the Tianhe orbiting module helping develop the project’s technology and systems, state media have said.
As they began their mission, the three astronauts were unpacking supplies and setting up Wi-Fi connections and other equipment, CGTN reported on Saturday.
The space station is part of China’s effort to catch up to the U.S. as a space power.
