Beijing (TDI): China announced it will launch the Shenzhou-19 manned space mission on Wednesday at 4:27 am, revealing the crew lineup and key mission details.
Commander Cai Xuzhe, a seasoned taikonaut who flew on Shenzhou-14 in 2022, will lead the mission.
He will be accompanied by astronauts Song Lingdong and Wang Haoze, the country’s first female spaceflight engineer.
China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) spokesperson Lin Xiqiang made the announcement at a press conference on Tuesday.
Wang, born in 1990 and part of China’s third astronaut cohort, previously served as a senior engineer at China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), where she worked on engine design at the Sixth Academy.
Wang’s expertise and the support of the Sixth Academy’s top-quality engine systems are expected to play a vital role in ensuring the mission’s success.
China is also advancing future astronaut training, as Lin revealed the fourth batch of astronauts selected in May includes eight space pilots and two payload experts from Hong Kong and Macau.
These candidates, who began training in August, will serve missions on the China Space Station and the country’s future lunar expeditions, with rigorous preparation across over 200 subjects including extravehicular activities and space science experiments.
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Training will gradually incorporate skills for lunar rover driving, geological fieldwork, and navigating the transition from weightlessness in space to walking on the lunar surface.
In addition, Lin disclosed progress on the lunar rover development for China’s first manned lunar mission.
Two teams from the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology and China Academy of Spacecraft Technology have won the bid to build prototype models, which will undergo assessments before selecting a final team for the mission.
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Addressing the situation of two NASA astronauts currently delayed on the International Space Station, Lin remarked on the inherent risks of human spaceflight and expressed support for NASA’s commitment to astronaut safety.
Safety Measures
China’s space program, he said, prioritizes the safety of its crew, implementing a robust quality assurance system to safeguard against issues throughout each mission phase.
Emergency response measures, including an early return option and a standby rescue spacecraft, have been put in place to address threats like potential space debris collisions.
In preparation for any emergencies, a Long March-2F Y20 rocket and Shenzhou-20 spacecraft are on standby in the Jiuquan assembly building, ready to launch quickly if necessary.
