Beijing, China – October 31, 2025 – In a landmark achievement for its ambitious space program, China successfully launched the Shenzhou-21 crewed spacecraft on Friday, marking the nation's sixth crewed mission to its orbiting Tiangong space station. The launch took place at approximately midnight local time from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi Desert of northwest China, propelling three taikonauts—including the country's youngest-ever astronaut—and four mice into orbit for a six-month scientific expedition.
The Shenzhou-21 mission, part of China's rapidly expanding human spaceflight initiative under the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA), lifted off atop a Long March-2F carrier rocket. Live broadcasts from state media showed the rocket's fiery ascent against the night sky, with the spacecraft separating flawlessly and entering its designated orbit shortly after. Ground control confirmed that the solar panels deployed successfully, and the crew reported all systems nominal as they began their journey to dock with the Tiangong space station.
Leading the mission is spacecraft pilot and commander Zhang Lu, a seasoned veteran of previous spaceflights. Accompanying him are flight engineer Wu Fei, responsible for spacecraft operations and maintenance, and payload specialist Zhang Hongzhang, who at just 34 years old becomes China's youngest taikonaut to venture into space. This milestone underscores the CMSA's efforts to rejuvenate its astronaut corps with younger talent, ensuring long-term sustainability for extended missions and future deep-space explorations.
A novel aspect of Shenzhou-21 is the inclusion of four mice—two males and two females—onboard, marking the first time live mammals of this species have been sent to the Tiangong space station. According to reports from the state-run Global Times, these rodents are part of a groundbreaking biological experiment aimed at understanding the impacts of prolonged space exposure on living organisms. The mice will reside in specialized habitats within the station's Wentian laboratory module, where they will be monitored in real-time.
The primary objectives of the mouse experiments focus on the effects of microgravity and the confined space environment on animal behavior, physiology, and genetics. Scientists will observe changes in locomotion, social interactions, and reproductive capabilities under weightless conditions. Upon the crew's return to Earth, detailed post-flight analyses will examine organ and tissue alterations, including potential muscle atrophy, bone density loss, and cardiovascular changes—insights that could mirror human responses and inform countermeasures for astronauts on longer missions, such as those planned for the Moon or Mars.
Beyond the mammalian studies, the Shenzhou-21 crew will delve into fundamental questions about the origins of life. One key experiment involves investigating the relationship between the genetic code's origin and molecular chirality in space. Chirality refers to the "handedness" of molecules, where amino acids and nucleotides exist in left-handed or right-handed forms. On Earth, life predominantly uses left-handed amino acids and right-handed sugars, but the reasons for this selectivity remain a mystery. In the microgravity environment, the taikonauts will test interactions among different chiral combinations, potentially revealing how space conditions influence molecular preferences. This could provide clues to astrobiology and the emergence of life in the universe.
During their 180-day stay, the crew is slated to conduct 27 new scientific and applied research projects across critical domains. These include space life sciences and biotechnology, where experiments will explore protein crystallization, fluid dynamics in microgravity, and the cultivation of plants for sustainable food production. Aerospace medicine will feature prominently, with studies on human adaptation to space, including sleep patterns, psychological well-being, and radiation exposure mitigation. Additional projects encompass materials science, such as testing new alloys and composites under orbital conditions, and Earth observation tasks using high-resolution cameras to monitor climate change, natural disasters, and agricultural patterns.
The data gathered from Shenzhou-21 is expected to yield substantial benefits for both terrestrial applications and future space endeavors. For instance, biotechnology advancements could lead to improved drug development on Earth, while aerospace medicine findings will enhance crew safety for China's planned lunar base in the 2030s. The mission also supports international collaboration potential, as Tiangong has hosted foreign payloads in the past, aligning with China's push for inclusive space exploration.
This launch occurs amid a bustling period for the Tiangong space station, which has been continuously inhabited since its core module launched in 2021. The outgoing Shenzhou-20 crew, who arrived in April 2025, has been in orbit for 188 days as of the Shenzhou-21 liftoff. Their commander, Chen Dong, has etched his name in Chinese space history by surpassing 400 cumulative days in space—the first taikonaut to achieve this feat. Chen, a veteran of multiple missions, also holds the national record for extravehicular activities (EVAs), having completed six spacewalks during his career. These EVAs involved station maintenance, module installations, and scientific equipment deployments, demonstrating China's growing proficiency in orbital operations.
The handover between the Shenzhou-20 and Shenzhou-21 crews will involve a brief period of joint operations, allowing knowledge transfer and joint experiments before the former returns to Earth in their spacecraft. This rotation ensures seamless station management and maximizes scientific output.
China's space program, often hailed as one of the world's most dynamic, has accelerated in recent years. With Tiangong now fully operational—comprising the Tianhe core module, Wentian lab, and Mengtian lab—the country has conducted regular crewed missions, cargo resupply flights via Tianzhou spacecraft, and technological demonstrations. The Shenzhou series, derived from Russia's Soyuz but heavily indigenized, has a perfect safety record over 21 launches, bolstering confidence in its reliability.
Globally, Shenzhou-21 highlights China's role as a major spacefaring nation alongside the United States, Russia, and emerging players like India and private entities such as SpaceX. While the International Space Station (ISS) approaches retirement around 2030, Tiangong positions China to lead in low Earth orbit research. The inclusion of mice experiments echoes historical precedents, such as NASA's rodent studies on the ISS, but adapts them to Chinese scientific priorities.
Looking ahead, the CMSA has outlined plans for Shenzhou-22 in 2026, potentially featuring international astronauts under cooperative agreements. Long-term goals include a lunar landing by 2030 and a permanent Moon base, with Tiangong serving as a vital stepping stone.
As Shenzhou-21 docks with Tiangong in the coming days, the mission not only advances scientific knowledge but also symbolizes China's commitment to exploring the final frontier. With its youngest astronaut at the helm of innovative experiments and a record-breaking predecessor paving the way, this flight reinforces the nation's trajectory toward becoming a preeminent space power.
