By 
October 27th, 2024
Image credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab
In the coming few days left of the month, China’s Shenzhou-19 crew will depart Earth for a rendezvous and docking with the country’s space station.
The now-orbiting Shenzhou-18 crew aboard the Tiangong space station is preparing for their return mission while wrapping up remaining experiments. Ye Guangfu, Li Cong and Li Guangsu were sent into space for a six-month mission in April this year.
China’s Shenzhou-18 crew.
Image credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space
They are expected to hand over operation of the orbiting outpost with the Shenzhou-19 members in late October.
The measurement and control system for the launch of China’s Shenzhou-19 piloted spaceship is set to for liftoff later this month, according to engineers at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China.
A Long March 2F carrier rocket, topped with the Shenzhou-19 spacecraft, now sits on its pad at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.
Image credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab
Comprehensive drill
At the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, crews carried out on Saturday a comprehensive drill, involving all launch systems and units, to test their readiness for the upcoming mission.
The drill simulated the whole launch process from functional checks of the launch tower, the carrier rocket and the spaceship, to flight preparations, rocket blastoff and rocket-spaceship separation.
According to China Central Television (CCTV) the three Shenzhou-19 crew members — whose names are yet to be revealed — also participated in the drill, during which they completed equipment checks and finished the key flight maneuvers by cooperating with the ground personnel.
“The collaboration between the ground control personnel and the crew, as well as the collaboration among the crew members were quite good,” said Xing Lei, a staff member of the Beijing-based China Astronaut Research and Training Center.
“After the drill, the three astronauts will make final preparations for the launch, during which they will receive close medical monitoring and continue to conduct skill trainings,” Xing told CCTV.
For a video of launch preparations, go to:
Posted in Space News
