China”s manned space mission, Shenzhou-21, took flight on Friday at 11:44 PM local time (15:44 GMT), carrying three astronauts, one of whom is set to become the youngest in the country”s history. The mission is headed towards the Tiangong space station.
The launch vehicle, the Long March 2F Y21, propelled the spacecraft from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center located in the Gobi Desert, marking the beginning of a six-month mission focused on scientific research and extravehicular activities.
The crew consists of Zhang Lu, Wu Fei, and Zhang Hongzhang, with Zhang Lu serving as the mission commander. This flight represents the 37th mission of China”s crewed space program and the sixth during the application and development phase of the space station. Zhang Lu returns to space after two years, having previously participated in Shenzhou-15, while both Wu Fei and Zhang Hongzhang are on their inaugural space flights.
According to the China Manned Space Agency, the crew members represent the three active categories within the astronaut corps: Zhang Lu as the pilot, Wu Fei as the flight engineer, and Zhang Hongzhang as a payload specialist. At 32 years old, Wu Fei becomes the youngest astronaut in Chinese history, embodying a new generation of space professionals.
Prior to the launch, the three astronauts departed for the launch pad amid patriotic music and applause from the center”s staff, coinciding with the 16th anniversary of the passing of Qian Xuesen, recognized as the “father of China”s space program.” State broadcaster CCTV reported that the crew paid tribute to the scientist with a floral offering before boarding the spacecraft.
During their approximately six-month stay at the space station, the astronauts will undertake 27 new scientific and application projects, featuring several firsts. These include deploying a new model of extravehicular suit, caring for four mice sent for biological experiments, and conducting a food preparation experiment in microgravity that will involve the first barbecue in orbit. The crew will also install debris protection devices and external payload modules, along with engaging in educational and outreach activities from space.
The Shenzhou-21 mission is set to dock with the Tiangong space station, where it will rendezvous with the crew of Shenzhou-20, allowing for a brief period of joint operations before taking full control of the station. The Tiangong station, which translates to “Heavenly Palace” in Chinese, is designed to operate for at least ten years and could become the world”s only inhabited space station following the anticipated retirement of the International Space Station later this decade.
This week, China confirmed that preparations for its crewed lunar exploration program are proceeding smoothly, with plans to land astronauts on the Moon before 2030, as stated by Zhang Jingbo, spokesperson for the China Manned Space Agency. In recent years, Beijing has bolstered its space program with ambitious missions, including the Chang”e 4 lunar landing on the far side of the Moon and the arrival of Tianwen-1 on Mars, as well as plans for a scientific base at the lunar south pole in collaboration with other nations.
