By 
October 29th, 2024
Image credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab
All systems for the crewed Shenzhou-19 are ready with weather conditions suitable for the liftoff of Cai Xuzhe, Song Lingdong and Wang Haoze.
The new trio of space flyers will launch at 04:27 Beijing Time on Wednesday (2027 GMT on Tuesday/4:27 p.m. Eastern Time) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the country’s northwest, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) announced Tuesday.
33rd flight mission
For the Shenzhou-19 crew, two of the space travelers, except Cai Xuzhe (mission commander) were born in the 1990s and are from the third batch of Chinese astronauts, reports China Central Television (CCTV).
Image credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab
The Shenzhou-19 is the 33rd flight mission of China’s human spaceflight program and the fourth crewed mission during the application and development stage of China’s Tiangong space station.
According to the CMSA, the Shenzhou-19 crew will carry out 86 scientific experiments in space after they enter the orbital outpost.
Image credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab
Space flight engineer
As reported by CCTV, Wang Haoze is billed as China’s first and only female space flight engineer who will embark on the Shenzhou-19 crewed spaceflight mission and “is set to make history as the country’s first rocket designer to ride one of her works into space.”
Wang holds a degree of engineering thermophysics and previously served as a senior engineer at the Academy of Aerospace Propulsion Technology under the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.
Image credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab
Enhanced Shenzhou craft
China’s Shenzhou-19 crewed spaceship features increased in-cabin loading space and enlarged carrying capacity, according to its developer, China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC).
CASC said that the enhanced Shenzhou’s loading capacity was done by optimizing the spatial layout of the Shenzhou-19 orbital module.
“By optimizing the installations on and the layout of the orbital module, we have further enhanced the carrying capacity of the Shenzhou-19 crewed spaceship. This allows it to carry more spaceflight supplies for the astronauts and provide them with a more comfortable environment, therefore better supporting their mission throughout the entire spaceflight,” said Liu Qingbo, an aerospace engineer at the CASC.
Shenzhou-19’s loading space has also been expanded by 20 percent from earlier models, enabling the astronauts to carry more time-sensitive supplies and temporary necessities.
In-orbit handover
Now onboard China’s space station is the Shenzhou-18 crew Ye Guangfu, Li Cong and Li Guangsu. They began their mission in April and are now slated for a November 4 return to the Dongfeng landing site in north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region after completing in-orbit handover with the incoming Shenzhou-19 crew.
Shenzhou-18 crew: astronauts Li Guangsu, Ye Guangfu, Li Cong.
Due to the impact of typhoon Yagi on the Wenchang Space Launch Center in Hainan province, China’s next cargo mission to the Tiangong space station, the Tianzho- 8 supply ship has been rescheduled to launch in mid-November, according to Lin Xiqiang, deputy director of the China Manned Space Agency.
For live launch coverage, go to CCTV at:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1094035451998414/?ref=newsfeed
For pre-launch video of the new Chinese crew, go to:
Posted in Space News
