China successfully carried out its latest crewed space mission on Friday night. The Shenzhou-21 spacecraft was launched at 23:44 (Beijing Time) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the country’s northwest atop a Long March-2F carrier rocket.
Approximately ten minutes after liftoff, the spacecraft separated from the rocket and entered its planned orbit. According to the Beijing Aerospace Flight Control Center, Shenzhou-21 is maintaining a stable orbit with a perigee of 200 kilometres, an apogee of 363 kilometres, and an inclination of 41.5 degrees. All spacecraft systems are functioning normally, and the crew members are reported to be in good condition.
Sun Jushun, commander of the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, officially declared the launch a “complete success.”
The three-member crew includes experienced mission commander Zhang Lu, alongside first-time space travellers Wu Fei and Zhang Hongzhang. The crew will carry out an automated rendezvous and docking with the Tianhe core module of the Tiangong space station approximately three and a half hours after launch.
Following a handover with the Shenzhou-20 crew, the Shenzhou-21 astronauts will remain in orbit for six months. During this time, they will conduct over two dozen scientific and technological experiments, including the first biological experiments involving rodents.
The astronauts will also undertake extravehicular activities (EVAs), cargo operations, and equipment maintenance, as well as install new protective systems against space debris.
In addition, the crew is expected to participate in science education and public outreach activities while in orbit.
Shenzhou-21 is the 37th mission of China’s crewed space programme and the sixth manned flight during the operational and development phase of the Tiangong space station.
According to the Beijing Flight Control Centre, this launch represents China’s next step in establishing a permanent human presence in orbit and advancing deeper space exploration.
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