Shenzhou-21 Launched: Chinese Crew and Four Mice Head to Tiangong
Why in the news
China launched the Shenzhou-21 crewed mission late on 31 October 2025 (local time), and the lift-off was reported on 1 November. The crew is heading to the Tiangong space station for a six-month stay.
Key facts
- Rocket: Long March-2F, fired from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in the Gobi Desert, northwest China.
- Crew: Zhang Lu (commander), Wu Fei (flight engineer) and Zhang Hongzhang (payload specialist).
- Youngest astronaut: Wu Fei, aged 32, is described as China’s youngest astronaut to enter orbit.
- Mice: four laboratory mice, two males and two females, will help study how microgravity affects mammal physiology and reproduction.
- Docking: expected within roughly 3.5 hours of lift-off.
Mission plan
The crew is expected to carry out several spacewalks, fit shields against space debris, run life-science experiments and take part in educational outreach.
About Tiangong
Tiangong is China’s permanent orbital research base, completed in 2022. China is also working towards a crewed Moon landing by 2030, after earlier milestones such as the 2019 Chang’e-4 far-side lunar landing and the 2021 Mars rover.
Exam angle
- Remember the Shenzhou-21 crew names and the launch site, Jiuquan.
- Link Tiangong (2022) with China’s 2030 crewed lunar target.
- Expect “first/youngest” style questions on Wu Fei.