Shenzhou-19 astronauts send Spring Festival greetings from space as their work in space continues to contribute to scientific advancements.
The Shenzhou-19 astronauts, Cai Xuzhe, Song Lingdong, and Wang Haoze, shared their Spring Festival greetings in a video from China’s Tiangong space station, marking the New Year’s Eve celebration.
Dressed in blue jumpsuits featuring traditional red cloud patterns, they held paper cuttings with the “fu” character, symbolizing good luck and prosperity.
Cai, the crew commander, expressed missing his loved ones and wished everyone a prosperous Year of the Snake, filled with happiness and fortune.
This marks Cai’s second mission at the space station and his first time celebrating Spring Festival in space, following his six-month stint in 2022 during Shenzhou-14.
Song reflected on his fortune in living during such a remarkable era and fulfilling his space dream, while wishing a bright future for young people.
Wang, making a heart gesture with her hands, wished everyone for their dreams to come true in the new year.
Song and Wang are the first post-90s astronauts to join the space station, with Wang being the first female space engineer aboard.
The astronauts decorated the station with red couplets and “fu” characters, and enjoyed a festive meal with dumplings, symbolic of family reunions, and a variety of dishes like roast chicken and soups.
Since arriving on October 30, 2024, the astronauts have conducted numerous scientific experiments, including spacewalks to install debris protection.
They will complete 86 experiments across various fields during their six-month mission, contributing to advancements in space life science, microgravity physics, and space medicine.
This is the third Spring Festival celebrated in space since the Chinese space station’s full completion, with astronauts from Shenzhou-15, Shenzhou-17, and Shenzhou-19 all participating in the festivities.
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