The Shenzhou-18 spacecraft leaves the launch pad. Photo: China People's Daily

The crew will utilize the scientific experiment cabinets and extravehicular payloads to carry out more than 90 experiments in the fields of basic physics in microgravity, space material science, space life science, space medicine and space technology, said Lin Xiqiang, deputy director of the CMSA, at Wednesday's press conference.

A unique task for the three pilot-turned taikonauts is to create an "aquarium" and raise fish in zero gravity. They will create a simplified version of an aquatic ecosystem using zebrafish and algae to study how the space environment affects their growth and system balance.

The Shenzhou-18 crew will welcome the Tianzhou-8 cargo ship and the Shenzhou-19 crew, perform two to three spacewalks, then return to Earth at Dongfeng landing site at the end of October. The Shenzhou-17 crew is expected to return on April 30.

The mission is China's first manned mission to the space station this year, the third since the space station entered application and development phase, and China's 32nd manned flight into space.