China's first 'post-90s' astronauts to fulfill their space dreams

China's Shenzhou-19 crewed spaceship is set to launch on Wednesday, carrying three astronauts, Cai Xuzhe, Song Lingdong and Wang Haoze to the China Space Station.

Notably, Song and Wang, both born in 1990, are part of China's third taikonaut group, making them the first Chinese "post-90s" astronauts (or taikonauts) to enter space.

Song Lingdong: 'The best men become pilots'

Song, born in east China's Shandong Province in August 1990, joined the military in 2008, becoming a pilot.

Reflecting on his early days, Song said, "When I first enlisted, the idea of being a pilot, especially a fighter pilot, was pretty vague. In one training session, a former fighter pilot instructor shared his flying journey and wrote on the blackboard, 'The best men become pilots.' That struck a chord with me, I wanted to be that kind of man and fly the best planes. That has driven me ever since."

By 2016, Song had completed numerous missions across China.

"I've flown from north to south, and seeing our country's beauty from above fills me with pride," he said in an interview with China Media Group (CMG).

In 2018, during a mission, he learned about astronaut recruitment and immediately signed up, eager to take on new challenges.

"Joining the space program felt like a chance to fulfill my potential. One of the biggest challenges for me has been the centrifuge training since I've always struggled with motion sickness. But I pushed through," Song said.

After passing through several rounds of rigorous evaluations, Song joined China's third group of taikonauts in 2020. He appreciated the guidance from experienced taikonauts.

"The veteran taikonauts passed down their knowledge without reservation. It's this commitment to training and mentoring young taikonauts that keeps our space program vibrant."

Now on the cusp of his first mission, Song dreams of stepping outside the space station to take in the universe.

"I flew at dawn once, reaching 20,000 meters, and saw the Earth's curve. Watching the sunrise at that height made me feel both small and incredibly lucky," he said. "Now, I'm thrilled to have the chance to see the grandeur of space from our space station."

Song said he is grateful that a strong motherland has given his generation the opportunity to chase their dreams.

"The harder you work, the luckier you get. I feel like a lucky one in this era," he said.

Wang Haoze: China's first and only female space flight engineer

Born in north China's Hebei Province in March 1990, Wang holds a degree in thermophysics engineering 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 taikonaut 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 got an alarm bell that 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 in an interview with CMG.

As an engineer-turned taikonaut, Wang has developed what she calls her two "magic keys" to success: practice hard and think diligently.

"I had to keep practicing, and after practicing nearly 1,000 times, I meet the requirement for every docking simulation," Wang said.

Then the second one: quick 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 be to extend the range of operation, and where my hand should be to hold more firmly and exert the right amount of force," she said.

There are many tasks awaiting the new crew: 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 a taikonaut, the Wednesday launch represents more than just a mission; it's a culmination of a lifetime's dedication to space exploration.

"All I think about is to focus on my work, I must do every job well in space," she said.

The crew will conduct 86 space science research and technological experiments. It is scheduled to stay in orbit for approximately six months, returning to the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in late April or early May next year.