China's Shenzhou-16 Takes Off For Space Station — SEE PICS

China sent three astronauts to its now fully operational space station as part of crew rotation on Tuesday in the fifth manned mission to the Chinese space outpost since 2021.

Images of the Long March-2F rocket which was launched on Tuesday under China's Shenzhou-16 Mission

Members from China's Manned Space Agency and visitors watch as the Shenzhou-16 spacecraft onboard the Long March-2F rocket launches at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on Tuesday in Jiuquan, China. (Image Source: Getty)

Image of the rocket as it flies high in the sky. Three astronauts have been sent to its now fully operational space station as part of crew rotation in the fifth manned mission to space since 2021. (Image Source: Getty)

A citizen watches a live broadcast of the launch of the Shenzhou 16 manned spacecraft in Fuyang City, Anhui province, China. Shenzhou-16, or "Divine Vessel", and its passengers left the ground in northwest China at 9:31 am, reported by the news agency Reuters. (Image Source: Getty)

The astronauts that are going on Shenzhou-16 will replace the three-member crew of the Shenzhou-15, who arrived at the space station last year late in November. The flight crew is composed of astronauts Jing Haipeng, Zhu Yangzhu and GUI Haichao, with Jing Haipeng as commander. (Image Source: Getty)

A zoomed-out shot at the rocket leaving the ground. China has already announced its plan to expand the permanently inhabited space outpost. The next module is anticipated to dock with the present T-shaped space station to form a cross-shaped structure. (Image Source: Getty)

Beijing is likely to launch another crewed mission to the orbiting outpost this year and by the end of this year, China is expected to launch a space telescope of the size of a large bus. (Image Source: Getty)