The Long March rocket with the Shenzhou-19 spacecraft aboard takes off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Jiuquan, northwest China early Wednesday (Oct. 30, 2024). | Photo Credit: AP
China on Wednesday (October 30, 2024) successfully launched a spacecraft that sent three astronauts, including the country’s first female space engineer, on a six-month mission to set up a low-orbit space station.
The Shenzhou-19 crewed spacecraft was launched by a Long March-2F carrier rocket early Wednesday from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northern China. About 10 minutes after launch, the Shenzhou-19 spacecraft separated from the rocket and entered its designated orbit.
The crew members are in good condition and the launch was a complete success, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) announced.
Chinese astronauts Wang Haoze, from left, Song Lingdong and Cai Xuzhe wave during a farewell ceremony for the Shenzhou-19 mission at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, early Wednesday (Oct. 30, 2024). | Photo Credit: AP
The spaceship will perform a quick, automatic rendezvous and docking with the front port of the core module of the Tianhe space station in about 6.5 hours, forming a combination of three modules and three spacecraft.
China is building a space station after reportedly being excluded from the International Space Station (ISS) due to concerns that China’s space program is being run by the military, the People’s Liberation Army, (PLA).
It is now the only country with a space station.
ISS is a collaborative project of several countries. Observers say China’s space station could be the only one in orbit when the ISS is retired in the coming years.
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The two stations’ robotic arms, especially the long ones that have the ability to grab objects including satellites from space, have attracted international attention.
Earlier this month, China announced plans to expand its space program that includes launching manned lunar missions, building a lunar space station, exploring habitable planets and extraterrestrial life to expand its space program in the next few decades.
In addition to building space stations, China has launched several space missions including a lunar probe that collected the first samples from the far side of the moon and brought them back to Earth for scientific study.
The Shenzhou-19 crew includes mission commander Cai Xuzhe, and astronauts Song Lingdong and Wang Haoze.
Wang is currently China’s only female space engineer and the third Chinese woman to participate in a crewed space flight mission, CMSA said.
Duties for the new crew include conducting space science and application tests, conducting extravehicular activities, installing protective devices against space debris, and managing the installation and recycling of extravehicular payloads and equipment.
Lin Xiqiang, CMSA spokesman told a press conference on Tuesday (October 29, 2024) that the crew will carry out 86 space science and technology experiments, covering various fields including space life science, fundamental physics of microgravity, space material science, medicine space and new space technology.
The Shenzhou-19 astronauts will complete their rotation in orbit with the trio currently working and remain on the space station for about six months.
Wang Haoze explained that he will be mainly responsible for space experiment projects, cargo management, and space station operation management.
“China is also participating in discussions to select and train astronauts from partner countries, inviting international partners to join the space station flight mission,” Mr Lin said.
Considering the close ties, astronauts from Pakistan are expected to participate in future space station missions.
“No country is involved, this is a collective human effort to unravel the mysteries of the cosmos,” Mr Lin said.
Published – 30 October 2024 11:04 IST
