The successful launch of Shenzhou 9 on June 16, 2012, marked a pivotal moment in China's burgeoning space exploration endeavors. This mission was particularly notable for featuring Liu Yang, the first female astronaut of China, a significant milestone in the country's human spaceflight program. The mission was launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi Desert and included a crew of three astronauts. In addition to Liu Yang, the crew consisted of Commander Jing Haipeng and fellow astronaut Liu Wang.

The primary objective of Shenzhou 9 was to dock with the Tiangong-1 space laboratory, which had been launched in September 2011, and involved conducting scientific experiments while stationed in orbit. The spacecraft successfully achieved its goal of docking with Tiangong-1, demonstrating improving capabilities in China's space technology. The mission lasted around 13 days and included extensive scientific research and training for the crew.

Liu Yang’s inclusion in the mission was heralded as an inspiration for women in science and technology fields, reigniting discussions about gender roles in the domain of space exploration. The launch and subsequent mission received extensive media coverage and showcased China’s growing ambitions and prowess within the realm of space exploration on a global scale.