posted 10-28-2024 06:23 PM               

China prepares to launch Shenzhou-19 crew

China is expected to launch the Shenzhou-19 crew soon.

The combination of the Shenzhou-19 crewed spaceship and a Long March-2F carrier rocket were transferred to the pad at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on Oct. 22.

The Shenzhou-19 crewed space mission has completed its last joint practice before launch and the system-wide airtightness check. The rocket and spacecraft have completed the electrical performance test, and the astronauts and all systems at the launch site have carried out the launch drill, with everything reported to be in good condition, according to the launch center.

posted 10-28-2024 08:51 PM               

China unveils Shenzhou-19 crew for space station mission

Chinese astronauts Cai Xuzhe, Song Lingdong and Wang Haoze will carry out the Shenzhou-19 crewed spaceflight mission, and Cai will be the commander, the China Manned Space Agency announced at a press conference on Tuesday (Oct. 29).

Above: This photo shows Chinese astronauts Cai Xuzhe (center), Song Lingdong (right) and Wang Haoze who will carry out the Shenzhou-19 spaceflight mission. (Xinhua)

The Shenzhou-19 crewed spaceship is scheduled to be launched at 4:27 a.m. Wednesday Beijing Time (4:27 p.m. EDT or 2027 GMT Oct. 29) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, said Lin Xiqiang, spokesperson of the agency.

Cai completed the Shenzhou-14 space mission in 2022. Song and Wang, among the third batch of Chinese astronauts, are newcomers to space. Both of them were born in the 1990s.

Song was a former air force pilot before being selected as an astronaut, and Wang previously served as a senior engineer at the Academy of Aerospace Propulsion Technology under the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.

Wang is currently China's only female space flight engineer and will become the third Chinese woman to embark on a crewed spaceflight mission, the agency noted.

posted 10-29-2024 03:40 PM               

China launches Shenzhou-19 crew for six-month stay on space station

China has launched a new three-person crew to its space station, including a commander making his second visit to the orbiting laboratory and the only female flight engineer currently in China's astronaut corps.

Cai Xuzhe, Song Lingdong and Wang Haoze lifted off on the Shenzhou-19 mission on Tuesday (Oct. 29). The three Chinese taikonauts took flight at 4:27 p.m. EDT (2027 GMT or 4:27 a.m. on Oct. 30 Beijing Time) atop a Long March-2F carrier rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China.

posted 10-30-2024 08:00 AM               

Shenzhou-19 docks, crew enters space station

China's Shenzhou-19 crewed spacecraft arrived the Tiangong space station on Tuesday (Oct. 29), according to the China Manned Space Agency.

Above: This image captured at the Beijing Aerospace Control Center on Oct. 30, 2024 shows the Shenzhou-19 crewed spaceraft docking with the Tiangong space station's Tianhe core module. (Xinhua)

The spacecraft completed an autonomous rendezvous and docking with the forward-facing port of the station's Tianhe core module at 11:00 p.m. EDT (0300 GMT or 11 a.m. Beijing Time on Oct. 30).

The three Shenzhou-19 taikonauts, Cai Xuzhe, Song Lingdong and Wang Haoze, entered the space station and met with the Shenzhou-18 crew of Ye Guangfu, Li Cong and Li Guangsu, starting their in-orbit handover. The Shenzhou-18 crew opened the hatch at 12:51 a.m. EDT (0451 GMT or 12:51 p.m. Beijing Time) and greeted the new arrivals.

The six crew members then took group pictures for the fifth meeting of two crews in China's space history. They will live and work together for about five days to complete planned tasks and handover work, the CMSA said.

Above: This image captured at the Beijing Aerospace Control Center on Oct. 30, 2024 shows the crews of Shenzhou-18 (at left) and Shenzhou-19 talking with each other soon after the Shenzhou-19 crew's arrival. (Xinhua)

posted 12-17-2024 07:38 PM               

Shenzhou-19 crew completes first extravehicular activities

Shenzhou-19 crew members aboard China's orbiting space station completed the first extravehicular activities (EVAs) of their mission at 9:57 p.m. Beijing Time (8:57 p.m. EST or 1357 GMT) on Tuesday (Dec. 17), according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).

Cai Xuzhe, Song Lingdong and Wang Haoze, worked for nine hours on completing multiple tasks, including the installation of space-debris protection devices. They were assisted by the space station's robotic arm and a team on Earth.

Cai and Song, the two crew members assigned the EVA duty, have since returned safely to the Wentian lab module.

The mission of the first extravehicular activities of the Shenzhou-19 crew was a complete success, setting a new record for the duration of extravehicular activities by Chinese astronauts, said the CMSA.

It marked Cai's second EVAs in space, following his initial EVAs during the Shenzhou-14 mission two years ago. Song became the first Chinese astronaut born after 1990 to carry out EVAs, said the agency.

The Shenzhou-19 crew is set to carry out a slew of scheduled space-science experiments and technical tests, while they will also undertake additional extravehicular activities and install payloads outside the space station, the agency added.