30-10-2024 (BEIJING) China’s space programme marked another milestone as the Shenzhou-19 mission successfully launched from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre, carrying three astronauts including the nation’s only female spaceflight engineer to the Tiangong space station.
Lieutenant-Colonel Wang Haoze, 34, joins the elite ranks as China’s third female astronaut in space, bringing her expertise as a spaceflight engineer to the six-month mission. During a pre-launch media briefing, Lt-Col Wang expressed her aspirations to explore deep space and contribute to China’s expanding space programme.
The crew, commanded by veteran astronaut Senior Colonel Cai Xuzhe, 48, who previously served aboard Tiangong during the Shenzhou-14 mission, also includes 34-year-old fighter pilot Song Lingdong. They are scheduled to return to Earth in late April or early May 2025, according to China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) deputy director Lin Xiqiang.
A key focus of their mission will be conducting experiments with simulated lunar soil “bricks,” scheduled for delivery by the Tianzhou-8 cargo ship in November. These tests are crucial for China’s ambitious lunar base construction plans, as scientists explore the possibility of using Moon-based materials for future construction projects.
The mission represents another step in China’s accelerating space programme under President Xi Jinping’s leadership. The nation, which became the third country to put humans in orbit, has already achieved significant milestones including landing rovers on Mars and the Moon. The Tiangong space station, operational since 2021, serves as the cornerstone of China’s space presence, with plans for approximately ten years of service.
Dr Jonathan McDowell from the Harvard-Smithsonian Centre for Astrophysics notes that while this mission primarily focuses on gaining operational experience, it remains vital for China’s broader space objectives, including their targeted 2030 crewed Moon landing.
The current Tiangong crew is set to return to Earth on November 4 following handover procedures with the incoming team, continuing China’s consistent presence in low Earth orbit and advancing their ambitious “space dream” initiative.
