China successfully launched its Shenzhou-21 crewed mission to the Tiangong Space Station, carrying three astronauts, including the youngest Chinese astronaut ever and four laboratory mice for in-orbit experiments.
The mission was launched aboard a Long March-2F rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in northwest China. This marks the seventh crewed mission to the Tiangong station since its completion in 2022.
Mission Highlights
- Mission Name: Shenzhou-21
- Launch Vehicle: Long March-2F rocket
- Launch Site: Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre, Gansu Province, northwest China
- Space Station: Tiangong (meaning “Heavenly Palace”)
- Launched by: China Manned Space Agency (CMSA)
Crew Composition
- Zhang Lu (Commander) – 48 years old, veteran astronaut, earlier flew on Shenzhou-15.
- Zhang Hongzhang (Astronaut) – 39 years old, first space mission.
- Wu Fei (Astronaut) – 32 years old, youngest Chinese astronaut to enter space; selected in 2020.
The trio replaces the Shenzhou-20 crew, who spent over six months aboard Tiangong and are returning to Earth.
Inclusion of Laboratory Mice
- For the first time, China sent four black mice (2 males, 2 females) to Tiangong.
- Purpose: To conduct experiments on reproduction, behavior, and adaptation in microgravity conditions.
- Selected from 300 candidates after 60 days of training.
- Aim: Study the effects of weightlessness and confinement on small mammals — a key step toward future long-duration lunar and Mars missions.
About Shenzhou Crewed Program
- Operates on a biannual launch cycle, each mission lasting around six months.
- Crews rotate regularly to maintain a continuous human presence aboard Tiangong.
- Recent milestones:
- Inclusion of astronauts born in the 1990s.
- World-record spacewalk duration by a Chinese astronaut.
- Plans to send the first foreign astronaut (from Pakistan) in upcoming missions.
China’s ‘Space Dream’ and Global Goals
- China became the third country (after the USA and USSR/Russia) to independently send humans into orbit.
- The program is central to President Xi Jinping’s “Space Dream”, aiming for:
- Manned Moon landing by 2030.
- Expansion of scientific research and international cooperation in space.
Key achievements:
- Chang’e-4 probe: First soft landing on the far side of the Moon (2019).
- Tianwen-1 mission: Successful Mars rover landing (2021).
Tiangong Space Station: The ‘Heavenly Palace’
- Completed in 2022; serves as China’s permanent orbital laboratory.
- Houses three astronauts at a time, rotating every six months.
- Conducts experiments in:
- Life sciences, material science, and space medicine.
- Astronomical observations and Earth monitoring.
- China was excluded from the International Space Station (ISS) since 2011 due to US restrictions on NASA–China collaboration.
- Tiangong represents China’s independent capability in long-term human spaceflight.
Strategic Significance
- Symbolizes China’s technological parity with the US and Russia.
- Enhances Beijing’s soft power and international cooperation in space research.
- Rivalry intensifies with the US-led Artemis Accords (aimed at lunar exploration) and the China–Russia-backed International Lunar Research Station initiative.
- Strengthens China’s ambition to become a space superpower by 2030.
China’s Space Achievements Timeline
| Year | Mission / Achievement | Significance |
| 2003 | Shenzhou-5 | China’s first manned spaceflight (Yang Liwei) |
| 2011 | Tiangong-1 | First prototype space lab |
| 2019 | Chang’e-4 | First soft landing on Moon’s far side |
| 2020 | Chang’e-5 | Lunar sample return mission |
| 2021 | Tianwen-1 | Mars rover mission (Zhurong rover) |
| 2022 | Completion of Tiangong | Fully operational Chinese Space Station |
| 2025 (expected) | First foreign astronaut mission (Pakistan) | Expanding international collaboration |
| 2030 (goal) | Manned lunar mission | Major milestone in China’s “Space Dream” |
Key Chinese Space Agencies
- China National Space Administration (CNSA): Civilian space agency responsible for deep-space exploration and planetary missions.
- China Manned Space Agency (CMSA): Handles human spaceflight operations, including Shenzhou and Tiangong missions.
- China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC): Manufacturer of Long March rockets.
About Long March-2F Rocket
- Type: Two-stage, crew-rated launch vehicle.
- Manufacturer: China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT).
- Payload capacity: ~8,400 kg to Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
- First flight: 1999 (for Shenzhou-1).
- Role: Exclusively used for manned missions under the Shenzhou program.
Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre
- Location: Gobi Desert, Gansu Province, northwest China.
- Established: 1958.
- Significance: China’s first and main spaceport for manned and satellite launches.
- Notable missions: Shenzhou series, Tiangong modules.
Comparison with ISS
| Feature | Tiangong | International Space Station (ISS) |
| Operated by | China (CMSA) | NASA, Roscosmos, ESA, JAXA, CSA |
| Crew capacity | 3 | 6–7 |
| Completion year | 2022 | 2011 |
| Orbit altitude | ~400 km | ~400 km |
| International collaboration | Limited (Pakistan, potential BRICS partners) | Multinational cooperation |
| Planned operational lifespan | 15 years | Till 2030 |