China to launch Shenzhou-19 crewed space mission on Oct. 30
China is set to launch its Shenzhou-19 manned space mission on Wednesday at 4:27 am local time (2027 GMT Tuesday).
Leading the mission as commander will be experienced taikonaut Cai Xuzhe, who previously participated in the Shenzhou-14 mission in 2022, according to Xinhua News Agency. Accompanying him will be two first-time astronauts, Song Lingdong and Wang Haoze, with Wang, a female astronaut, previously serving as a senior engineer at the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), China’s primary space agency.
The crew will travel aboard the Long March-2F rocket, which is domestically developed to support China’s expanding space program.
Once in orbit, the Shenzhou-19 team will take over operational duties from the Shenzhou-18 crew, who have spent the last six months conducting scientific research aboard the Tiangong space station.
Currently aboard the station, Shenzhou-18 crew members Ye Guangfu, Li Cong, and Li Guangsu are preparing for their return. Ye, an experienced astronaut and former fighter pilot who previously flew on the Shenzhou-13 mission in 2021, has achieved a milestone by becoming the first Chinese taikonaut to log a cumulative 365 days in space.
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