Wang Haoze, China's first and only female space flight engineer who will embark on the Shenzhou-19 crewed spaceflight mission on Wednesday, is set to make history as the country's first rocket designer to ride one of her works into space.
The Shenzhou-19 crewed spaceship is scheduled to be launched at 4:27 Wednesday (Beijing Time) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, the China Manned Space Agency announced at a press conference on Tuesday.
Wang, along with astronauts Song Lingdong and Cai Xuzhe -- the commander -- to carry out the mission.
The 34-year-old flight engineer represents a new generation of Chinese astronauts: scientists and engineers who are now stepping into spacesuits themselves.
Born in north China's Hebei Province, Wang holds a degree of engineering thermophysics and previously served as a senior engineer at the Academy of Aerospace Propulsion Technology under the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.
But Wang's journey from designing rocket engines to operating them wasn't easy. During astronaut selection in 2020, she faced one of her toughest challenges in the centrifuge -- a machine that simulates an intense six-fold G force of spaceflight. "Our centrifuge instructor said that he'd got an alarm bell which has never rung because no astronaut had ever pressed the button. I was holding that button with my mind struggling. I felt terribly sick in those moments but I thought I just couldn't press it, I can't be the first to do this," she said.
That determination characterized her entire training journey. As an engineer-turned astronaut, Wang has developed what she calls her two "magic keys" to success: practice hard and think diligently.
"The first 'magic key' is called 'practice hard', and the second 'magic key' is called 'think diligently'. Docking is very easy for a pilot to get started quickly, but for me an engineer, it was a little confusing at first. What should I do then? I had to keep practicing, and after practicing nearly 1,000 times, I meet the requirement for every docking simulation. Then the second one: diligent in thinking. There are certain operations that need us to do more thinking in extravehicular training. For example, what kind of posture should my body in the suit present to extend the range of operation, and where should my hand pinch it so that I can grip it more firmly and exert force," Wang said.
The crew will complete in-orbit rotation with the Shenzhou-18 trio and stay at the space station for approximately six months, witnessing the arrival of the Tianzhou-8 cargo craft and Shenzhou-20 crewed spaceship during the mission.
Many tasks await the new crew to complete: conducting space science and application tests, 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.
"I think I would be more useful in communicating with the ground technicians. For instance, when we encounter some situations outside the plan and need to use our wisdom and engineering background together to solve the problem, I think there is a role for me to play," Wang said.
For Wang, who spent years studying advanced rocket propulsion systems before becoming an astronaut, the Wednesday launch represents more than just a mission; it's a culmination of a lifetime dedication to space exploration.
"All I think about is to focus on my work, I must do every job well in space," she said.
China's first female flight engineer ambitious to play her part
