For six months, the crew will utilize the domestic space station as a base to do spacewalks and experiments as Beijing builds intelligence and experience for its ultimate goal of landing a person on the moon by 2030.
The launch of Shenzhou 19 was hailed as a “complete success” by Beijing, which plans to launch 100 spacecraft in a record-breaking year as it attempts to surpass its competitor, the United States.
We were barely over a kilometer away when the spacecraft blasted off, and the news was granted exclusive access to the Jiuquan Satellite launch center in Gansu.
As the rocket launched to the skies, flames erupted from the rocket launcher, illuminating the Gobi Desert with a thunderous roar.
As the taikonauts—China’s term for astronauts—were launched, hundreds of people lined the streets, cheering and waving their names.
Three additional astronauts who are manning the Shenzhou 18 and will return to Earth on November 4th met with the Shenzhou 19 crew at the Tiangong space station.
President Xi Jinping stated only two years ago that “our eternal dream is to explore the vast cosmos, develop the space industry, and build China into a space power.”
However, some Washingtoners believe that the nation’s aspirations and rapid advancement pose a serious threat.
