JIUQUAN, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- Chinese astronauts Cai Xuzhe, Song Lingdong and Wang Haoze will carry out the Shenzhou-19 crewed spaceflight mission, and Cai will be the commander, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) announced at a press conference on Tuesday.
Cai completed the Shenzhou-14 space mission in 2022. Speaking to the press on Tuesday about his upcoming return to space, the 48-year-old commander said that the experience of his previous mission remains vivid in his memory.
From a first-timer astronaut in the Shenzhou-14 trio to the leader of the Shenzhou-19 crew, Cai said he felt proud and had a greater sense of responsibility. He pledged to work with his colleagues to do their best to enhance operational quality and emergency response capabilities.
Song and Wang, members of the third batch of Chinese astronauts, are newcomers to space. They were both born in 1990.
Song was an air force pilot before being selected as an astronaut. As the youngest member of the Shenzhou-19 trio, Song said with confidence that the crew had undergone extensive training on Earth and would work seamlessly together in orbit.
Wang, from the Manchu ethnic group, has garnered significant attention as China's only female space engineer. She is set to become the third Chinese woman to participate in a crewed spaceflight mission.
Prior to her current role as an astronaut, Wang served as a senior engineer at the Academy of Aerospace Propulsion Technology under the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. This background has prompted some media outlets to call her "the first rocket designer to ride on a rocket."
"Like everyone else, I have dreamed of visiting our space 'mansion' and experiencing the joy of floating in weightlessness," Wang told journalists.
IMPORTANT TASKS AHEAD
The Shenzhou-19 crewed spaceship is scheduled to be launched at 4:27 a.m. Wednesday (Beijing Time) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China.
The three astronauts will complete an in-orbit rotation with the Shenzhou-18 trio and stay at the space station, Tiangong, for approximately six months. During the mission, they will witness the arrival of the Tianzhou-8 cargo craft and Shenzhou-20 crewed spaceship, said Lin Xiqiang, spokesperson of the CMSA, at the press conference.
The new crew will have numerous tasks to complete, including conducting 86 space science research and technology experiments, performing extravehicular activities, installing protective devices against space debris, and installing and recycling extravehicular payloads and equipment. They will also engage in science education, public welfare activities, and other payload tests.
"Manned spaceflight activities are always fraught with risks and challenges, and the safety of astronauts is always the top concern for the governments and people around the world," Lin said, adding that China has continuously enhanced its emergency response plan for potential threats like space debris.
The time available for astronauts to respond to emergencies has now increased by five times compared to the early operation phase of China's space station, he said.
According to Lin, in extreme situations, astronauts onboard the space station have two options for returning: either they can return using in-orbit spacecraft or wait for the launch of the standby spacecraft for emergency rescue.
The Shenzhou-19 astronauts are scheduled to return to the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in late April or early May next year, according to the CMSA.
Lin said China also paid close attention to the delayed return of two American astronauts remaining at the International Space Station.
"We extend our best wishes for the safe return of the two astronauts," he said.
FUTURE MISSIONS, COOPERATION
The CMSA on Tuesday announced its plan for 2025, which includes launching the Shenzhou-20 and Shenzhou-21 crewed missions, and the Tianzhou-9 cargo craft for in-orbit supplies.
The fourth group of 10 Chinese astronauts is currently undergoing training for future space missions, including manned lunar landings, Lin said. Their skills will be enhanced in regard to controlling lunar rovers, conducting geological research, and walking on the lunar surface, he added.
He noted that two payload specialists from the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions have become integral members of the team, demonstrating a strong passion for training while maintaining optimal physical and mental well-being.
China is also engaging in discussions to select and train astronauts from partner nations for participation in its space station missions.
"Regardless of which country participates, it is humanity's collective quest to unravel the mysteries of the cosmos," said Lin, noting that manned space missions are "the most immediate human endeavor in harnessing the space resources."
China has carried out international collaborations with major space-faring nations and developing countries across various areas, including astronaut selection and training, space science applications, in-orbit facilities, space debris protection and ground support, resulting in significant outcomes, according to Lin.
The Chinese space station serves not only as a national asset but also as a platform for advancing space technology and bringing benefits to all of humanity, he said. ■
