China launches Shenzhou 19 spacecraft
Oct 30, 2024
Beijing [China], October 30: On October 30, China successfully launched the manned spacecraft Shenzhou 19 to the Tiangong space station, marking the fourth launch in the application and development phase of the country's space station.
According to the China Manned Space Administration ( CMSA ), the Shenzhou- 19 spacecraft took off on a Long March-2F rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center (northwest China) at 4:27 a.m. on October 30 (local time).
About 20 minutes later, Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center Director Zou Li Peng announced that the Shenzhou 19 launch mission had been a success, with the spacecraft separating from the rocket and entering its predetermined orbit after about 10 minutes of flight.
Ms. Wang Haoze (34 years old), an expert in nuclear missile technology, will become the third Chinese woman to participate in a manned space mission, according to the South China Morning Post.
According to CMSA spokesman Lam Tay Cuong, in addition to conducting scientific experiments, the crew will conduct spacewalks, install protective equipment against space debris, and install and retrieve payloads and extra-vehicle equipment.
The astronauts will also engage in scientific education, public interest activities and other payload tests, Xinhua quoted Lin as saying. The crew will conduct 86 space science and technology research experiments, covering a wide range of fields, including space life science, fundamental physics of microgravity, space material science, space medicine and new space technology.
Shenzhou 19 marks the fourth manned mission since the completion of the Tiangong space station. Lin also said that the Shenzhou 19 crew will take over command of the Tiangong space station from the Shenzhou 18 crew, which is currently in orbit and is scheduled to return to Earth on November 4.
During its time in orbit, the Shenzhou 19 crew will pick up the cargo spacecraft Tianzhou 8 and the manned spacecraft Shenzhou 20, before returning to the Dongfeng landing site, expected in late April or early May 2025.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper
