The Shenzhou-21 crew, after a mission extended by approximately one month due to technical considerations, is set to return to Earth at the end of May 2025. Their replacement, the Shenzhou-23 crew, launched on May 24, 2025, to begin a planned year-long mission, which will include the first continuous year in orbit for a Chinese astronaut and a change in standard return spacecraft.
Shenzhou-21 Mission Concludes with Extended Stay and Third Spacewalk
The three astronauts of the Shenzhou-21 mission—commander Zhang Lu, Wu Fei, and Zhang Hongzhang—have been aboard the Tiangong space station since their launch on October 31, 2023, from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre aboard a Long March-2F rocket.
Spacewalk Activities
The crew completed three extravehicular activities (EVAs) during their mission:
- First EVA (December 9, 2025): The crew conducted their first series of spacewalks.
- Second EVA (Monday, date not specified): Astronauts Zhang Lu and Wu Fei worked for approximately seven hours, concluding tasks at 7:35 p.m. Beijing Time. They installed a space debris protection device for the station and performed other unspecified activities, assisted by the station's robotic arm and a ground support team.
- Third EVA (April 17, 2025): Zhang Lu and Wu Fei conducted a five-and-a-half-hour spacewalk, returning to the Wentian lab module at 1:36 am. They installed space debris shields and inspected extravehicular equipment, with support from Zhang Hongzhang inside the station.
This was the 27th spacewalk carried out by Chinese astronauts. Zhang Lu has now completed seven EVAs, the highest number for any Chinese astronaut. He performed four spacewalks during his previous Shenzhou-15 mission.
Mission Extension
The China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) extended the Shenzhou-21 mission by approximately one month. The agency stated the extension was intended to further validate technologies supporting long-duration manned spaceflight and to make full use of materials brought by the uncrewed Shenzhou-22 spacecraft, which was launched in late November as an emergency resupply vehicle.
Return Plan
The Shenzhou-21 crew is scheduled to return to Earth at the end of May 2025. They will return using the uncrewed Shenzhou-22 spacecraft, which was sent as a lifeboat. This decision was reportedly made after a suspected debris impact damaged their original spacecraft, Shenzhou-20.
Shenzhou-23 Mission Launches with First Hong Kong Astronaut
The Shenzhou-23 spacecraft, launched on May 24, 2025, at 11:08 p.m. local time (11:08 a.m. EDT) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center aboard a Long March-2F Y23 rocket. The CMSA confirmed the spacecraft entered its preset orbit approximately 10 minutes after launch.
Crew Composition
- Zhu Yangzhu (commander, flight engineer): Previously flew on Shenzhou-16 in 2023.
- Zhang Zhiyuan (spacecraft pilot): First-time astronaut selected from China's third batch of astronauts in September 2020.
- Lai Ka-ying (payload specialist): Formerly of the Hong Kong Police Force, selected from the fourth batch of astronauts. She is the first astronaut from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
Mission Milestones
- The crew aims to rendezvous and dock with the Tiangong space station within 3.5 hours, which would set a new record for China's crewed program.
- The mission is scheduled to last approximately one year. One of the three astronauts will remain in orbit for a full year, the longest continuous stay for China. The specific astronaut for this extended stay has not been announced.
- This extended stay is intended to prepare for the Shenzhou-24 mission, which will include a Pakistani astronaut. The Pakistani astronaut will return on Shenzhou-23, leaving one crew member behind.
- The Shenzhou-23 spacecraft features enhanced window protection after debris damage to Shenzhou-20's window.
- The spacecraft's return capacity has been increased to over 100 kilograms, triple the previous limit, with payload volume expanded threefold.
- Safety upgrades include redundant backups for previously unbacked single-point components.
- The spacecraft carries living facilities tailored for female astronauts.
In-Orbit Activities
The Shenzhou-23 crew conducted their first in-orbit medical rescue training since arriving at the station, as reported by the CMSA. The training aimed to familiarize the crew with rescue operation techniques and force application characteristics under microgravity conditions.
The crew also performed a range of scientific experiments, including:
- Using a space Raman spectrometer to study the relationship between gut microbiota and nutritional metabolism during long-duration spaceflight.
- Conducting behavioral experiments on visual motion processing and intuitive physics in microgravity.
- Performing in-orbit emotion recognition and emergency decision-making capability assessments.
Ongoing Mission Activities
Both crews have conducted routine operations including in-orbit environmental monitoring, equipment inspection and maintenance, cargo arrangement, and full-system pressure emergency response drills. Scientific experiments in space life science, human physiology, microgravity physics, and new space technologies are progressing as planned for both missions.