Official announcements from the China National Space Administration (CNSA) and news reports

China to Launch Shenzhou-19 Crewed Mission at 4:27 a.m. on October 30 Led by Cai Xuzhe

Oct 29, 2024, 12:45 AM

China is set to launch the Shenzhou-19 crewed mission on October 30 at 4:27 a.m. Beijing Time from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China. The mission will be led by veteran taikonaut Cai Xuzhe, who previously flew on the Shenzhou-14 mission. Joining him are Song Lingdong and Wang Haoze, both first-time astronauts. Wang Haoze is notable for being China's only female space flight engineer. The Shenzhou-19 spacecraft, carried by a Long March-2F rocket, is expected to dock with the Tiangong space station after a 6.5-hour flight. The weather on the launch day is forecasted to be favorable. This launch follows the Shenzhou-18 mission, whose crew is preparing to return to Earth on November 4 after completing a six-month mission aboard the Tiangong space station.