The Shenzhou-19 crew was made up of two male astronauts aged 48 and 34 and China's third female astronaut, aged 35

China has successfully launched three astronauts to its Tiangong space station, marking another step towards a crewed mission to the Moon by 2030. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

China's Long March 2F rocket, carrying three astronauts for the Shenzhou 20 manned space mission, lifts off for a space station, at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Jiuquan, northwestern China, Thursday, April 24, 2025. Credit: AP/Andy Wong