Trio prepare for latest historic step in China's space journey

The three astronauts of China's 14th manned spaceflight, the Shenzhou XIX mission, headed to the launch tower early on Wednesday morning after a see-off ceremony in front of their residential building at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.

Mission commander Senior Colonel Cai Xuzhe and crew members Lieutenant Colonel Song Lingdong and Lieutenant Colonel Wang Haoze reported to the commander-in-chief of the country's manned space program, General Xu Xueqiang, that they were ready for the coming mission and asked for permission to embark on the expedition.