China set to launch new crew to Tiangong space station

China set to launch new crew to Tiangong space station
by Riko Seibo
Tokyo, Japan (SPX) Oct 31, 2025
China is preparing to launch three astronauts aboard the Shenzhou XXI mission to the Tiangong space station, with liftoff scheduled for 11:44 pm on October 31 from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. This mission will carry out a crew rotation, ensuring continuous occupation and operation of the Tiangong, which orbits at an altitude of roughly 400 kilometers.

The Shenzhou XXI crew is led by Senior Colonel Zhang Lu, with fellow crew members Wu Fei and Zhang Hongzhang. Zhang returns to orbit after 29 months, marking his second stint on the space station, while Wu and Zhang Hongzhang are on their inaugural flights. Wu Fei, who joined the Chinese Astronaut Division in 2021 and specializes in spacecraft temperature control, will become the youngest Chinese astronaut in history to fly in space. Zhang Hongzhang, a payload specialist from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, is the second civilian Chinese astronaut to reach orbit, contributing expertise in advanced materials and battery technology.

After launch, Shenzhou XXI will perform a rapid autonomous rendezvous and docking, connecting with the forward port of the Tianhe core module in under four hours. The new crew will relieve the Shenzhou XX occupants, who have maintained Tiangong for more than six months. Commander Chen Dong, now with over 400 cumulative days in orbit and a record six spacewalks, will hand over station management to the incoming team.

During their six-month stay, Shenzhou XXI astronauts are tasked with station operation, maintenance, and an expanded portfolio of scientific experiments. They will initiate 27 new research projects across disciplines including space life science, biotechnology, medicine, materials science, microgravity fluid mechanics, combustion, and next-generation spacecraft technologies. Among these, the crew will conduct China's first animal study involving rodents in space - four mice, chosen after 60 days of specialized training, will be observed in orbit to assess behavioral and physiological effects of microgravity and confinement. These studies aim to provide novel data on stress responses and adaptation of tissues and organs, with the animals returning to Earth for post-mission analysis.

Additional mission objectives include spacewalks for debris shield installation, equipment deployment and retrieval on the station exterior, and educational outreach. The crew is supported by the delivery of new second-generation Feitian extravehicular spacesuits via the Tianzhou-9 cargo ship. These suits feature improved thermal comfort, human-machine interface, and operational safety. The prior spacesuit, having performed over 20 spacewalks during its service, will retire and undergo detailed inspection - a first in Chinese spacesuit health monitoring and extended use validation.

The Tiangong outpost, completed in late 2022, comprises the Tianhe core module and the Wentian and Mengtian laboratory modules, with a total mass of about 100 metric tons. China remains the sole nation operating a crewed space station independently. Routine crew shifts, continuous experiment schedules, and operational upgrades like new spacesuits and animal studies reflect ongoing efforts to advance spaceflight capabilities and build a foundation for more complex missions.

China's crew rotation and experiment planning demonstrate a strategic focus on technical progress over propaganda, highlighting practical achievements in science, engineering, and astronaut training. The current Tiangong mission is positioned to drive forward China's goals for sustained human presence and pioneering research in low-Earth orbit.