JIUQUAN, China — Early Wednesday, China successfully launched a new crew of three astronauts aboard the Shenzhou-19 spacecraft, marking a significant step in the nation’s efforts to broaden its reach in space exploration.

This trio, comprising two males and one female, is set to take over from the astronauts who have been stationed at the Tiangong space station for the past six months. Their mission is anticipated to last until sometime in April or May of the following year, contributing further to the ongoing development of the space station.

The mission is led by commander Cai Xuzhe, who previously participated in the Shenzhou-14 mission back in 2022. Accompanying him are Song Lingdong and Wang Haoze, both of whom are venturing into space for the first time and were born in the 1990s. This mission continues to showcase China’s ambitions for long-term habitation and activities in low Earth orbit.