China launched an uncrewed Shenzhou-22 spacecraft to rescue three astronauts currently stationed on Tiangong space station. Unlike regular Shenzhou missions, which ferry astronauts to Tiangong for six-month stints, the Shenzhou-22 will serve as a return vehicle for the astronauts. They were left without a transport at Tiangong after their spacecraft was used to bring home Shenzhou-20 crew earlier.