Shenzhou-19 astronauts board spaceship ahead of launch

The three astronauts of the Shenzhou-19 crewed spaceflight mission have boarded the spaceship which is slated to launch from northwest China's Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center to the Tiangong space station at 04:27 (Beijing Time) Wednesday.

Cai Xuzhe, the mission commender, and his crew mates Song Lingdong and Wang Haoze climbed aboard the spaceship with the help of technicians.

Cai is a veteran astronaut who participated in the Shenzhou-14 crewed spaceflight mission in 2022, while Song and Wang, as newcomers to space, were both born in 1990. Song was an air force pilot before being selected as an astronaut, while Wang once was a rocket designer before becoming the country's first female space engineer, and she is set to become the third Chinese woman to take part in a crewed spaceflight mission.

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 perform tasks like conducting 86 space science research and technology experiments, carrying out 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 throughout their mission.

Shenzhou-19 astronauts board spaceship ahead of launch

Shenzhou-19 astronauts board spaceship ahead of launch

Shenzhou-19 astronauts board spaceship ahead of launch

Shenzhou-19 astronauts board spaceship ahead of launch

Shenzhou-19 astronauts board spaceship ahead of launch

Shenzhou-19 astronauts board spaceship ahead of launch

Shenzhou-19 astronauts board spaceship ahead of launch

The first widespread heavy rainfall China has experienced this year has triggered emergency responses across the country.

The National Meteorological Center (NMC) said the heavy rain is set to intensify throughout Saturday night to Sunday.

Level-IV flood control emergency responses were activated at 12:00 on Saturday for central China's Hubei Province and the southwestern Chongqing Municipality, while responses at the same level were maintained for the southern province of Guangdong and the southwestern province of Guizhou.

On early Saturday, heavy rain hit Guizhou's Zhenning Bouyei and Miao Autonomous County, with rainfall in some regions in the county exceeding 50 millimeters,

Trees toppled over on some roads in Zhenning, as thunderstorms and high winds swept the city.

Local authorities immediately launched emergency responses including hazard inspections and road obstacle clearance.

Continuing rainfalls in Guigang City in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region caused extensive flooding in major streets.

With the help of traffic control and flood drainage, the situation on the city's roads has returned to normal.

In Chongyi County, in east China's Jiangxi Province, persistent rain has flooded farmlands and triggered landslides on some roads.

Swift responses were launched to clear debris and reopen roads and traffic has started flowing again.

Heavy rains trigger emergency responses across China