Shenzhou-19 Blasts Off to Push Space Station Development

China successfully launched the Shenzhou-19 crewed spaceship with three astronauts on board, blasting off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on October 30, 2024, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).

The Shenzhou-19 crew includes mission commander Cai Xuzhe, and astronauts Song Lingdong and Wang Haoze. Among them, Song and Wang both born in the 1990s, are on their first space mission.

It is the 33rd flight mission of China's manned space program and the fourth crewed mission during the application and development stage of China's space station. The Shenzhou-19 astronauts will complete in-orbit rotation with Shenzhou-18 and stay at the space station for approximately six months.

The main tasks of the mission include conducting space science and application tests, performing extravehicular activities, installing protective devices against space debris, and managing the installation and recycling of extravehicular payloads and equipment. They will also engage in science education, public interest activities, and other payload tests, according to Lin Xiqiang, CMSA spokesperson and deputy director.

The new crew are prepared to carry out 86 space science research and technology experiments, covering various fields including space life science, microgravity fundamental physics, space material science, space medicine, and new space technologies, Lin said. In addition, it is expected a number of scientific achievements will be achieved in the frontier research of basic theories, the preparation of new materials, the physiological effect mechanism of space radiation and weightlessness, he said.

Meanwhile, it is planned to release a report outlining the progress and achievements of scientific research and application carried out in China's space station since it was put into orbit two years ago.

In May this year, the selection of the fourth batch of astronauts in China was completed, and a total of 10 astronaut candidates were finally selected, including eight space pilots and two payload experts. Payload experts from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) and the Macao SAR joined the team on August 8 to live and train with other astronauts.

In future, these astronauts are expected to not only carry out space station missions, but also manned missions to the moon.

Currently, China has carried out international collaborations with other countries across various areas, including astronaut selection and training, space science applications, and in-orbit facilities, Lin said.

The first batch of payloads selected through cooperation between China and the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs are undergoing experiments in orbit, and more international collaborative research initiatives are in the pipeline.

"China's space station is an excellent platform for international collaboration," Lin said, noting that it serves not only as a national asset but also a platform for advancing space technology and bringing benefits to all of humanity.

Source: Science and Technology Daily