China - October 29, 2024 The three astronauts of the Shenzhou-19 crewed spaceflight mission arrived at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China after a send-off ceremony on Wednesday, ready to board the spaceship for a scheduled liftoff to the Tiangong space station. The Shenzhou-19 spaceship is scheduled to blast off from the launch site at 04:27 Wednesday (Beijing Time). Cai Xuzhe, the mission commander, and crew members Song Lingdong and Wang Haoze all expressed confidence in carrying out their mission aboard China's Tiangong space station. After entering orbit, the Shenzhou-19 spaceship will perform a fast, automated rendezvous and docking with the front port of the space station core module Tianhe in about 6.5 hours, forming a combination of three modules and three spacecraft, according to the China Manned Space Agency. The three astronauts will complete an in-orbit rotation with the Shenzhou-18 trio and stay at the Tiangong space station for approximately six months. During the mission, they will witness the arrival of the Tianzhou-8 cargo craft and Shenzhou-20 crewed spaceship. The new crew will have numerous tasks to complete, including conducting 86 space science research and technology experiments, performing extravehicular activities, installing protective devices against space debris, and installing and recycling extravehicular payloads and equipment. They will also engage in science education, public welfare activities, and other payload tests. Shenzhou-19 is the 33rd flight mission of China's manned space program and the fourth manned mission during the application and development stage of China's space station. [Restriction: No access Chinese mainland]