China Launches Shenzhou-19 with First Female Engineer

China successfully launched the Shenzhou-19 spacecraft carrying a three-person crew, including the country's first female space engineer, to the Tiangong space station, marking a significant step in China's ambitious space program. The mission, launched by a Long March-2F rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, aims to conduct over 80 scientific experiments, including those focused on constructing a lunar base using 'moon bricks' made from simulated lunar soil. This mission underscores China's goal to put astronauts on the Moon by 2030 and potentially build a permanent lunar research station by 2035. China has been developing its space capabilities independently since being excluded from the International Space Station, and Tiangong is the only current space station in orbit. This expansion has raised international concerns, particularly from the United States, regarding China's growing influence and capabilities in space exploration. The Shenzhou-19 mission is part of a larger strategy to establish China as a global leader in space science by 2050.