China Launches Shenzhou-19 Mission, Sending New Crew to Tiangong Space Station
China successfully launched the Shenzhou-19 spacecraft, carrying three astronauts, including a woman, from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Inner Mongolia. The launch took place at 04:27 a.m. local time on Wednesday (2027 GMT, Tuesday), using a Long March-2F rocket. The crew includes Commander Cai Xuzhe, 48, along with Song Lingdong and Wang Haoze, both 34, marking a new phase in China’s ambitious space program.
The Shenzhou-19 mission crew will assume control of operations on the Tiangong space station, relieving the Shenzhou-18 team, which has spent the past six months conducting research in orbit. Currently stationed aboard the Tiangong, the Shenzhou-18 crew includes astronauts Ye Guangfu, Li Cong, and Li Guangsu. These taikonauts are scheduled to return to Earth on November 4, landing at the Dongfeng site, after concluding their scientific mission.
China’s commitment to building and maintaining a permanent presence in space is evident through its regular crew rotations and expanded mission objectives. The Shenzhou-19 mission reflects Beijing’s advancements in space exploration, with its astronauts playing pivotal roles in Tiangong’s growing role as an orbital research hub.
