First Civilian Female Astronaut Sent to Space by China
A Chinese spacecraft carrying a three-person crew, including the nation's first female space engineer, has successfully docked after a journey of over six hours. The crew will utilize China's homegrown space station as their base for six months, conducting experiments and spacewalks as Beijing gathers knowledge and expertise for its planned Moon mission by 2030.
The launch of Shenzhou 19 was declared a "complete success" by officials, marking one of 100 missions China has scheduled in a record year of space exploration aimed at surpassing the United States. As the rocket soared into the sky, flames erupted from the launcher, illuminating the Gobi Desert with a thunderous roar.
Crowds lined the streets, waving and cheering the names of the taikonauts—China’s term for astronauts—as they set off on their journey. Upon arriving at the Tiangong space station, the Shenzhou 19 crew met with three astronauts from Shenzhou 18, who are scheduled to return to Earth on November 4.
Just two years ago, President Xi Jinping emphasized the importance of space exploration, stating that "to explore the vast cosmos, develop the space industry, and build China into a space power is our eternal dream." However, some officials in Washington perceive China's rapid advancements as a significant threat. Earlier this year, NASA chief Bill Nelson remarked that the US and China are “in effect, in a race” to return to the Moon, expressing concerns that Beijing may seek to assert territorial claims.
In Dongfeng Space City, a town designed to support the launch facility, China's space program is celebrated with enthusiasm. Children’s parks feature cartoon-like astronaut figurines and sculptures, while plastic rockets dominate many traffic roundabouts. Hundreds gathered in the early hours of the morning, waving flags and colorful lights as the taikonauts made their final steps on Earth before heading to the launch site.
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