China Blasts Off into the Future: Meet the Trailblazing Crew Behind its Latest Manned Spacecraft Launch
- On the 30th, China's space development authorities announced the successful launch of the manned spacecraft Shenzhou 19.
- Shenzhou 19 will carry three astronauts to the Chinese space station Tiangong.
- Those on board were Tsai Xu-che (48), Wang Haoze (34), and Song Lingdong (34).
China launches manned spacecraft, highlighting new generation of crew
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On the 30th, China’s space development authorities announced the successful launch of the manned spacecraft Shenzhou 19.
Shenzhou 19 will carry three astronauts to the Chinese space station Tiangong.
Those on board were Tsai Xu-che (48), Wang Haoze (34), and Song Lingdong (34). Wang is China’s first female space engineer.
State media touts it as the “youngest crew ever”, sending a clear message that China values investing in its future.
The trio will spend the next six months conducting spacewalks and experiments, with the aim of gaining experience and knowledge that will help China send a man to the moon by 2030.
China has rapidly advanced its space development in recent years.
Earlier this year, it achieved a historic feat by collecting rock and soil samples from the far side of the moon.
In addition to successfully landing a probe on Mars in 2021, the country has a constellation of satellites in space, and plans to launch even more satellites.
The BBC was granted permission to interview at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China’s Gansu Province, and witnessed the launch up close.
According to Beijing correspondent Laura Vicker, the reporters spent a total of 12 hours reporting, staying in a hotel three hours away by car from the launch site and traveling back and forth by bus. They were not allowed to stay at the launch site for more than a few hours.
Even a simple outing to a casual local restaurant was closely guarded by security staff.
In addition, billboards around the city say, “Leaking secrets is a crime. Keeping secrets is an honor. If you leak secrets, you will be jailed. If you keep secrets, you will be happy. If you sell secrets, you will be shot.” It was written.
As competition with the United States is no longer limited to global issues, China appears unwilling to make any compromises on new technology, Bicker reported.
In the United States, there are growing concerns about China’s use of space technology for military purposes.
Stephen Whiting, former commander of the U.S. Space Command, said at a space symposium in April that China and Russia are investing heavily in space exploration at an “astounding rate.”