On Wednesday, China’s Shenzhou-19 crewed spacecraft successfully landed in northern China after a one-day delay due to weather conditions at the landing site, as reported by state broadcaster CCTV. The spacecraft, which launched in October 2022, was part of the ongoing work on China’s “Tiangong” space station, marking a key development in the country’s space program.
Shenzhou crewed missions, a staple of China’s space exploration for two decades, have become more frequent, especially after the completion of the Tiangong station in November 2022. This rapid advancement in both manned and unmanned space endeavors has raised concerns in the United States, which faces challenges with its own crewed space activities. China has set an ambitious target to achieve a manned moon landing by 2030.
The Shenzhou-19 crew consisted of two male astronauts aged 48 and 34, and China’s third female astronaut, aged 35. Notably, it was the first spaceflight for the two younger astronauts. All crew members are part of the Chinese military’s air force and have been engaged in various experiments, including those focused on the construction of human habitats.
One significant experiment involved testing bricks made from simulated lunar soil in space conditions. Successful outcomes could lead to these bricks being utilized in constructing a permanent lunar research station, which China aims to complete by 2035. Shenzhou missions typically involve crews of three, with astronauts staying in space for six months, including an overlap phase where departing astronauts hand over operations to incoming crews.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image associated with the presented article. Due to copyright reasons, we are unable to use the original images. However, you can still enjoy the accurate and up-to-date content and information provided.
