CHINA, Oct 30: The three astronauts of China's Shenzhou-19 spaceflight mission successfully docked with the Tiangong space station on Wednesday, marking the beginning of a new crew handover process. According to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA), the Shenzhou-18 crew opened the hatch at 12:51 p.m. Beijing Time to welcome the new arrivals. This gathering of six astronauts represents the fifth such meeting in China's aerospace history.

The two crews will spend approximately five days together to complete planned tasks and facilitate a smooth transition, as outlined by the CMSA. The Shenzhou-19 crewed spaceship had earlier docked with the front port of the station's core module, Tianhe, at 11 a.m. (Beijing Time) following a fast, automated rendezvous.

Launched atop a Long March-2F carrier rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, the Shenzhou-19 mission began at 4:27 a.m. (Beijing Time). About ten minutes post-launch, the spacecraft separated from the rocket and entered its designated orbit. The upcoming operations include a series of tasks aimed at scientific research and station maintenance.

Shenzhou-19 is the 33rd flight mission of China's manned space program and the fourth during the development stage of the space station. The crew consists of mission commander Cai Xuzhe, and astronauts Song Lingdong and Wang Haoze. Cai, who previously participated in the Shenzhou-14 mission, has set a record for the shortest interval between two spaceflights for Chinese astronauts. Song and Wang, both new to space travel, were born in the 1990s. Notably, Wang is China's only female space engineer and the third woman to join a crewed spaceflight mission.

The new crew has a busy schedule ahead, which includes conducting space science experiments, performing extravehicular activities, installing protective devices against space debris, and managing extravehicular payloads. According to CMSA spokesperson Lin Xiqiang, they will also engage in public interest activities and carry out 86 research experiments spanning fields such as space life science, microgravity physics, space material science, and space medicine.

Since the inception of its space station program, China has undertaken over 130 scientific research projects, yielding significant advancements in various fields. Over 500 global research institutions have participated, resulting in more than 280 papers published in top international journals.

During the Shenzhou-19 mission, the astronauts will also complete an in-orbit rotation with the Shenzhou-18 crew and are expected to remain at the space station for around six months. Cai noted that the team has undergone extensive training together for more than a year to prepare for their mission.

Additionally, researchers from the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) have enhanced the Shenzhou-19 mission's payload capacity by 20%, enabling the transport of more critical supplies and scientific equipment to the space station. This optimization not only supports the ongoing operations of the space station but also aims to reduce cargo transportation costs in future missions.

As part of a broader strategy to streamline operations, China has solicited proposals for a low-cost cargo transportation system, engaging both scientific research institutions and commercial space companies in developing necessary technologies and systems for its manned space program.