A Chinese spacecraft carrying a crew of three, including the country’s first female space astronauts, has successfully docked after a six-hour journey. The team will spend six months aboard China’s space station, conducting experiments and spacewalks to support Beijing’s ambition to send astronauts to the Moon by 2030.
This launch, Shenzhou 19, marks a major success in a record year of over 100 planned space launches for China as it seeks to surpass its rival, the United States. The media was granted rare access to the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Gansu, witnessing the rocket’s powerful liftoff that lit up the Gobi Desert.
Onlookers gathered, cheering for the taikonauts (Chinese astronauts), as they set off for the Tiangong space station, where they joined the Shenzhou 18 crew, due to return to Earth on November 4. President Xi Jinping has described China’s space ambitions as an “eternal dream,” with some in Washington viewing China’s rapid progress as a threat. NASA Chief Bill Nelson recently described the U.S. and China as “in effect, in a race” to the Moon, where he fears China may attempt to stake territorial claims.
In Dongfeng Space City, built to support the launch site, the Chinese space program is celebrated openly. Streets are adorned with national flags, cartoon taikonauts, and plastic rockets, while a massive poster of Xi Jinping greets visitors. Crowds gathered at midnight to cheer as the taikonauts, including veteran pilot Cai Xuzhe and China’s first female space engineer Wang Haoze, made their way to the launch site.
China’s space program emphasizes youthful innovation, with the “youngest crew” yet and new plans for lunar missions. Cai Xuzhe expressed his commitment to the mission, while his colleague, Song Lingdong, shared his pride in joining China’s space efforts.
Recent Chinese space achievements include retrieving lunar samples, safely landing a rover on Mars, and deploying satellites for broadband internet. Elon Musk noted that China’s program is further advanced than many realize. However, U.S. officials voice concerns about potential military applications, with General Stephen Whiting stating that China has significantly increased its surveillance satellites.
Despite these concerns, Chinese officials stress peaceful exploration, citing international collaboration in space research. China’s space program is also exploring lunar minerals like helium and rare earths, which may be valuable for future space resource utilization, though the required technology is still developing.
China’s scientific experiments in space are yielding insights into health issues on Earth. For instance, research on bone and muscle loss in microgravity may inform treatments for osteoporosis. China continues to prioritize its space program, and President Xi Jinping has emphasized self-reliance despite ongoing economic challenges.
While international media were invited to witness this launch, access was tightly controlled, with journalists kept several hours from the launch site and closely monitored. Signs warned against leaking secrets, underscoring the national importance of these advancements as China and the United States prepare for competition beyond Earth.
