Chen Dong (R) delivers a speech to XJTU students.

According to a press conference for the Shenzhou XX manned spaceship mission held at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on April 23, China has scheduled the launch of the Shenzhou XX crewed spaceship for April 24 at 17:17.

The astronaut crew for Shenzhou XX consists of Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui, and Wang Jie, with Chen Dong serving as the mission commander. Chen Dong, an alumnus of Xi'an Jiaotong University (XJTU) and a veteran of the Shenzhou XI and Shenzhou XIV missions, will take on the role of commander once again after a two-year interval, marking his third journey into space.

April 24, 2025, will coincide with the 10th China Space Day, making this the first time a Shenzhou spacecraft has been launched into space on this special day.

During their orbital stay, the Shenzhou XX crew will welcome the arrival of the Tianzhou-9 cargo spacecraft and the Shenzhou XXI‌ manned spacecraft. They are scheduled to return to the Dongfeng Landing Site in late October this year.

In 2017, during the 121st anniversary celebration of XJTU, Chen returned to his alma mater and delivered a speech titled "The Power of Dreams" to students.

Chen remarked, "Space exploration is not distant from us. Astronauts are tasked with realizing the aspirations of many through their efforts, serving both the nation and its people. Every astronaut is a hero, whether they have flown to space or not, because it is through collective dedication that our country's space industry continues to advance and thrive."