According to the China Manned Space Engineering Office, on October 30, 2024 at 4:27 am Beijing time, the Long March 2F Y19 carrier rocket carrying the Shenzhou-19 manned spacecraft was ignited and launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. About 10 minutes later, the Shenzhou-19 manned spacecraft successfully separated from the rocket and entered the predetermined orbit. The crew was in good condition and the launch was a complete success.

After the spacecraft enters orbit, it will perform autonomous rapid rendezvous and docking with the space station complex according to the predetermined program. The crew of Shenzhou-19 will rotate with the crew of Shenzhou-18 while in orbit. During their stay and work on the space station, the crew of Shenzhou-19 will conduct multiple extravehicular activities, carry out experiments and applications in fields such as microgravity fundamental physics, space materials science, space life science, aerospace medicine, and aerospace technology, and complete tasks such as installing space station debris protection devices, installing and retrieving external payloads and platform equipment.

This mission is the fourth manned flight mission of China’s manned space program entering the application and development phase of the space station, the 33rd launch mission since the project’s implementation, and the 543rd flight of the Long March series of launch vehicles.

It is worth noting that starting from Shenzhou-18, the main power storage batteries of the Shenzhou spacecraft have been upgraded to more advanced lithium-ion batteries, with each battery pack’s capacity expanded by more than 30%. Additionally, a more precise charging shunt control mode has been added, and the adaptive capability of the safety control strategy has been further enhanced.

With the initiation of the Shenzhou-19 manned spacecraft’s flight mission, the space station will for the first time see a new situation where six spacecraft, three modules, and three ships, all powered by lithium-ion batteries, are present simultaneously. Whether it is the Shenzhou-18 docked radially or the Shenzhou-19 docked forward, under a reliable grid-connected mode, the overall advantage of the energy system’s control strategy is maximized, and the system is even safer.