China launched three astronauts on Wednesday to its permanently inhabited space station, where they will carry out dozens of scientific experiments, some focused on building human habitats in space.
The Shenzhou-19 spacecraft, carrying the three-member crew, lifted off at 4:27 a.m. (2027 GMT) aboard a Long March-2F rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in northwest China, state media reported.
During the mission, “86 space science and technology experiments will be conducted in fields such as space life sciences, microgravity physics, materials, medicine, and new technologies,” stated Lin Xiqiang, deputy director of the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA), at a press conference on Tuesday.
One notable experiment involves testing bricks made from simulated lunar soil under space conditions. If successful, these bricks could serve as essential building materials for a permanent lunar research station, which China aims to complete by 2035, potentially avoiding the need to transport building supplies from Earth.
The lunar bricks will be delivered to the Shenzhou-19 crew next month via an uncrewed cargo flight.
China’s Shenzhou crewed missions have been integral to its space program for over two decades, with increased frequency in recent years as China completed and began operating its Tiangong space station in November 2022.
China’s rapid space advancements have drawn attention from the United States, which has faced challenges with its crewed spaceflights. Two NASA astronauts sent to the International Space Station in June via Boeing’s Starliner capsule remain stranded due to issues with the spacecraft’s propulsion, with a return planned in February 2025 via SpaceX’s Crew Dragon.
In response to potential risks, CMSA’s Lin emphasized on Tuesday that the emergency response plan has been “continuously optimized” to give astronauts more time to address possible issues, such as space debris damage to Shenzhou-19. He added that Shenzhou-20 and its rocket are on standby for an emergency rescue mission if needed.
