JIUQUAN, June 16 (Reuters) - China is expected to launch the crewed spacecraft Shenzhou-12 at 9:22 a.m. Beijing time (0122 GMT) on Thursday, an official at the China Manned Space agency said on Wednesday.

The astronauts flying the spacecraft will be Nie Haisheng, Liu Boming and Tang Hongbo, Ji Qiming, assistant director at the China Manned Space Agency, told reporters.