The three astronauts taking part in the Shenzhou XIII mission, China's eighth spaceflight, set out to the launch tower after a departure ceremony on Friday evening in front of their residential building at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China's Gobi Desert.

Mission commander Major General Zhai Zhigang, Senior Colonel Wang Yaping and Senior Colonel Ye Guangfu, all in mission suits, reported to General Li Shangfu, commander-in-chief of the country's manned space program, that they are ready for the coming mission and asked for permission to embark on the flight.