In Space - Oct 16, 2021 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
1. Shenzhou-13 docking with Tianhe, viewed from Tianhe
2. Shenzhou-13 docking with Tianhe, viewed from Shenzhou-13
3. Three astronauts aboard, viewed from Shenzhou-13 re-entry capsule
4. Four-module complex, viewed from Tianhe

Beijing, China - Recent (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
5. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Jia Shijin, chief designer of manned spacecraft system, China Academy of Space Technology (starting with shot 4/ending with shot 6):
"The assembly and testing of Shenzhou-14 have been completed at the base, so the spacecraft is now on standby, ready for rapid launch and emergency rescue operation."

Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, northwest China - Recent (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
6. Various of spacecraft being assembled

Beijing, China - Recent (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
7. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Shao Limin, engineer, manned spacecraft system, China Academy of Space Technology (starting with shot 6/ending with shot 8):
"The Tiangong-1 and Tiangong-2 each has only one docking port. If the docked spacecraft couldn't be evacuated, there would have been no way to dock a back-up spacecraft. Now, thanks to the progress made in building the space station, there are three docking ports on the space station for spacecraft. If there is a problem with a docked spacecraft, the other two docking ports are still available for us to use."

FILE: China - Date Unknown (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
8. Animation showing Shenzhou-13 docking with Tianhe

Beijing, China - Recent (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
9. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Shao Limin, engineer, manned spacecraft system, China Academy of Space Technology (ending with shot 10):
"This function has been achieved thanks to the joint efforts of our whole system, including the rockets, spacecraft, and launching system at the launch center. The realization of development of the rescue craft is a result of the whole system working together."

Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, northwest China - Recent (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
10. Various of spacecraft being transported

The Shenzhou-14 spacecraft had actually been rolled out to the launch pad and served as a backup for the Shenzhou-13 manned spaceship in case of any emergency at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, prior to the Shenzhou-13's launch early Saturday, showing China's capabilities of rapid launch and emergency rescue operation in the space era.

A Long March-2F Y13 carrier rocket carrying the Shenzhou-13 blasted off at 00:23 local time on Saturday (1623 GMT on Friday) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China's Gansu Province.

About 582 seconds later, the Shenzhou-13 separated from the rocket and entered the predetermined orbit, sending the crew of three -- commander Zhai Zhigang and co-astronauts Wang Yaping and Ye Guangfu -- into space.

At 06:56 (Beijing Time), the Shenzhou-13 completed orbital status setting after entering the orbit and conducted a fast automated rendezvous and docking with Tianhe, forming a complex together with the cargo crafts Tianzhou-2 and Tianzhou-3. The whole process took approximately 6.5 hours.

After a series of preparations, Zhai Zhigang opened the hatch of the Tianhe core module. At 09:58 Beijing Time (0158 GMT), the three astronauts entered the core module one after another.

The spacecraft is always under the risk of malfunctions or space debris attacks, and as the Shenzhou-13 will have an epic six-month-long journey in space, there are more chances that things could go wrong. Therefore, the backup crafts with rapid launch and emergency rescue capacities are required to better guarantee the safety of astronauts.

"The assembly and testing of Shenzhou-14 have been completed at the base, so the spacecraft is now on standby, ready for rapid launch and emergency rescue operation," said Jia Shijin, chief designer of the manned spacecraft system of China Academy of Space Technology.

Since launch of the Shenzhou-12 mission earlier this year, every Shenzhou spacecraft will have a back-up at the launch site. The plan for backup spacecraft could only be realized now thanks to the increased number of docking ports on the space station.

"The Tiangong-1 and Tiangong-2 each has only one docking port. If the docked spacecraft couldn't be evacuated, there would have been no way to dock a back-up spacecraft. Now, thanks to the progress made in building the space station, there are three docking ports on the space station for spacecraft. If there is a problem with a docked spacecraft, the other two docking ports are still available for us to use," said Shao Limin, engineer with the manned spacecraft system of China Academy of Space Technology.

Improvement of the rapid launch and emergency rescue capabilities also require upgrading of related technology and coordination of multiple systems, according to Shao.

"This function has been achieved thanks to the joint efforts of our whole system, including the rockets, spacecraft, and launching system at the launch center. The realization of development of the rescue craft is a result of the whole system working together," said Shao.