By 
October 30th, 2024
Image credit: CCTV/Inside Outer space screengrab
China’s Tiangong space station is now occupied by six astronauts following the rendezvous and docking of the Shenzhou-19 crew, commander Cai Xuzhe and colleagues Song Lingdong and Wang Haoze.
Following launch atop a Long March-2F carrier rocket, the Shenzhou-19 craft made a fast automated rendezvous and docking with the space station’s Tianhe core module. The liftoff to docking process took about 6.5 hours.
The newcomers and the Shenzhou-18 crew of Ye Guangfu, Li Cong and Li Guangsu will live and work together for about five days to complete planned tasks and handover work, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).
Handover and departure
Starting their mission in April, the Shenzhou-18 crew are now slated for a November 4 return to the Dongfeng landing site in north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region after completing an in-orbit handover with the newly arrived Shenzhou-19 crew.
High-definition images of China’s space station were taken by the departing Shenzhou-16 crew October 30, 2023.
Image credit: CMS
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 CMSA.
For video replay of the arrival of the space station newcomers, go to:
Posted in Space News
