China unveils Shenzhou-19 crew for space station mission announced by China Manned Space Agency.
Chinese astronauts Cai Xuzhe, Song Lingdong, and Wang Haoze have been assigned to the Shenzhou-19 crewed spaceflight mission, with Cai acting as commander, as announced by the China Manned Space Agency during a press conference on Tuesday.
The Shenzhou-19 spacecraft is set to launch at 4:27 a.m. Wednesday (Beijing Time) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, said agency spokesperson Lin Xiqiang.
Cai previously completed the Shenzhou-14 mission in 2022, while Song and Wang, both from the third batch of Chinese astronauts, will be making their first space journey. Born in the 1990s, Song was an air force pilot, and Wang served as a senior engineer at the Academy of Aerospace Propulsion Technology.
Wang, China’s only female spaceflight engineer, will become the third Chinese woman to undertake a crewed space mission, according to the agency.
During their six-month stay, the Shenzhou-19 team will replace the Shenzhou-18 crew on the space station and oversee the arrival of the Tianzhou-8 cargo craft and Shenzhou-20 crewed spaceship.
The astronauts will carry out numerous tasks, including space science experiments, extravehicular activities, debris shield installations, and equipment recycling. They’ll also participate in educational outreach, public welfare initiatives, and other tests.
The Shenzhou-19 crew is expected to return to the Dongfeng landing site in Inner Mongolia, northern China, in late April or early May of the following year.
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