This image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on Oct. 30, 2024 shows a group photo of the crew of Shenzhou-18 and Shenzhou-19 manned spaceships. (Photo/Xinhua)

Beijing - The three astronauts of China's Shenzhou-19 spaceflight mission have entered the Tiangong space station and met with another astronaut trio on Wednesday, starting a new round of in-orbit crew handover.

The Shenzhou-18 crew opened the hatch at 12:51 p.m. (Beijing Time) and greeted the new arrivals, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).

This image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on Oct. 30, 2024 shows the crew of Shenzhou-18 manned spaceship greeting the crew of Shenzhou-19 manned spaceship. (Photo/Xinhua)

The six crew members then took group pictures for the fifth space get-together in China's aerospace history.

They will live and work together for about five days to complete planned tasks and handover work, the CMSA said.

The Shenzhou-18 crew is scheduled to return to the Dongfeng landing site in north China on Nov. 4.

This image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on Oct. 30, 2024 shows the crew of Shenzhou-18 and Shenzhou-19 manned spaceships talking with each other. (Photo/Xinhua)