A Long March rocket, carrying a crew of three astronauts, including a civilian, blasts off at 9:31 a.m. Tuesday at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China. Photo: Mark Schiefelbein/VCG

Jing Haipeng (center), Zhu Yangzhu (left) and Gui Haichao, the astronauts of the Shenzhou-16 mission, will replace the Shenzhou-15 crew and live in the Tiangong space station for five months. Photo: Courtesy of China Manned Space Agency

Jing, commander of the Shenzhou-16 mission, undergoes Extra Vehicular Activity training. The 56 year-old has been on three space missions, serving as commander of Shenzhou-9 and Shenzhou-11. Photo: Courtesy of China Manned Space Agency

Zhu undergoes underwater training for the Shenzhou-16 mission. The 36-year-old, one of China’s third batch of astronauts, is the country’s first flight engineer to embark on a space mission. Photo: Courtesy of China Manned Space Agency

Gui, 36, a professor at Beihang University, serves as payload specialist for the Shenzhou-16 mission. Photo: Courtesy of China Manned Space Agency

Jing (left) and Zhu undergo training prior to the mission. Photo: Courtesy of China Manned Space Agency

The Shenzhou-16 crew undergoes core module supply management training. Photo: Courtesy of China Manned Space Agency

The Shenzhou-16 astronauts wave during Tuesday’s send-off ceremony at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. Photo: VCG