4 . China successfully sent three astronauts to its space station in June. It was confirmed to National Television by Yang Liwei, a chief designer for China’s manned space program. Yang was the country’s first astronaut to launch into orbit in 2003.

Three astronauts are to complete a three-month mission on the large space station. Its main module (舱) was launched into orbit on April 29. In May, a self-piloted spacecraft arrived at the space station carrying supplies. The Tianzhou 2 spacecraft reached the station eight hours after launching from Hainan, an island in the South China Sea. The spacecraft was carrying space suits, living supplies, equipment and fuel. The astronauts were carried to space aboard the country’s Shenzhou 12 spacecraft. It was launched from China’s Jiuquan base in the northwest.

Yang did not provide the identities of the astronauts or give a flight date in his comments to China Central Television. But he said the astronauts were expected to practice spacewalks, complete repairs and carry out some scientific operations. When asked whether any women were in the crew, Yang said none would be joining the upcoming mission. “But missions after that all will have them,” he added.

The Chinese space agency plans a total of 11 launches through the end of next year. The mission is to transport the remaining modules for the 70-ton space station and more supplies and crew.

China has sent over ten astronauts, including two women, into space, beginning with Yang’s flight in October 2003. The first female astronaut was Liu Yang in 2012. China’s first spacewalk was made in 2008 by astronaut Zhai Zhigang outside the Shenzhou 7 spacecraft. The space station mission marks the latest step forward for China’s space program.