China's Long March-2F carrier rocket has all-success mission record since first flight

China's only manned carrier rocket in use currently, the Long March-2F, has an all-success track record of sending Shenzhou spaceships and other spacecraft into space over the past 25 years.

The Long March-2F carrier rocket conducted its first mission on November 20, 1999, successfully sending China's first experimental spaceship, the Shenzhou-1, into space.

This reliable rocket on Wednesday lifted the Shenzhou-19 crew to space, which is the latest progress of China's space program.

The combination of the Shenzhou-19 manned spaceship and a Long March-2F carrier rocket was transferred to the launching area at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on October 22, to make the final preparation before launching.

The combination was lifted from the assembly and test facility and smoothly transported via a vertical transfer method.

In China, this way of transporting upright or vertically has started with the Long March 2F rocket.

"The 'three-vertical mode' refers to vertical assembly, vertical transport, and vertical launch. The Long March-2F rocket is China's first 'three-vertical mode' rocket. Subsequent rockets such as the Long March-5 and Long March-7, which are currently in service, as well as the future next-generation manned rocket, all use this 'three-vertical' mode," said Ren Xiaowei, an engineer of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.

Ever since the rollout process, the Long March-2F rocket responsible for the Shenzhou-19 mission has stood tall and straight, its uprightness gets further fine-tuned after propellant loading.

"You can see four green column-like support arms. Their height can be adjusted. Through these, the rocket's verticality can be precisely controlled. Generally, it is adjusted to within one minute (that is within the range of 1/60th of a degree)," said Ren.

About 6.5 hours after launching, the Shenzhou-19 spaceship successfully docked with the space station combination, and the crew, mission commander Cai Xuzhe and astronauts Song Lingdong and Wang Haoze entered the space station, where the three astronauts of the Shenzhou-18 mission were ready for their arrival.

China's Long March-2F carrier rocket has all-success mission record since first flight

The first cruise ship visiting Shanghai in 2025 arrived at the Shanghai Port International Cruise Terminal on Wednesday, carrying more than 400 passengers from around the world.

On May 15, 2024, China's National Immigration Administration rolled out a visa-free entry policy for foreign tourist groups entering China on cruise ships, and increased the number of cruise ports eligible for visa-free entry to 13. In December, the administration introduced a 240-hour transit visa-free policy, and added 21 entry and exit ports for those entering under the new policy.

"More than 95 percent of the passengers on this cruise ship are applicable to various visa exemption policies. For example, more than 300 passengers, representing over 93 percent, are applicable to the 15-day visa exemption for cruise groups, while some passengers are eligible for visa-free entry into China or the 240-hour transit visa exemption. It can be said that the visa exemption policies have greatly benefited our cruise inbound tourism market," said Ma Yingjie, an officer at the Pujiang border inspection station under the Shanghai General Station of Immigration Inspection.

The passengers on the cruise ship Silver Dawn come from different countries including the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom and Germany. During the two-day stay, they will visit the Bund, the Oriental Pearl Tower, the Shanghai Museum, the National Exhibition and other places to personally feel the unique charm of Shanghai.

"Today we are going to the Water Town, and then we're back. We hope to explore the evening here the night in Shanghai. Tomorrow we are going to [eat] the dumplings," said a Swiss tourist.

According to statistics, Shanghai ports recorded 1.3759 million visits by cruise passengers in total in 2024. It is expected that the city will see more than 20 cruise ship visits in 2025.

Shanghai receives 1st visiting int'l cruise ship of 2025