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Shenzhou 21

retired
Human SpaceflightLEOCOSPAR 2025-246ALaunched 10/31/2025
Admin Edit
Mission & Launch
Launch Mission
Shenzhou 21 Mission
Launch Vehicle
Long March 2F G
Launch Date
10/31/2025
Last Contact
11/14/2025
Orbit & Mass
Orbit Class
LEO
Altitude
387.5 km
Inclination
41.47 deg
Dry Mass
3,258 kg
Total Mass
8,100 kg
Payload Classification
Mission Type
Human Spaceflight
Payload Category
SS
Payload Class
C
Organizations
Operator
China Manned Space Agency (CMSA)
Manufacturer
China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT)
Registry
COSPAR ID
2025-246A
Track
Mentions
345
All verified mentions of this spacecraft in source documents.
0.0-5.0
Actions

The Shenzhou-21 spacecraft jettisoned its orbital module before performing a deorbit burn for the service module and reentry capsule.

PlanCapabilityValue 3.8Nov 14, 2025Shenzhou-20 Taikonauts Return Aboard Shenzhou-21 Spacecraft Following Debris Concerns
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An uncrewed Shenzhou-22 with cargo will be launched to Tiangong for the Shenzhou-21 astronauts.

PlanValue 4.5Nov 14, 2025*Shenzhou-20 crew returned to Earth as expected within reentry window *They used their colleagues' SZ-21 spacecraft as SZ-20 return module window has minor crack, likely due to a debris impact *Uncrewed Shenzhou-22 with cargo will be launched to Tiangong for SZ-21 astrosnauts

Shenzhou 21's mission is record-breaking in its short duration.

GeneralPlanValue 2.0Nov 14, 2025The Shenzhou 21 spacecraft, launched on Oct 31, departed Tiangong space station today for a record-breaking short 13-day mission, rescuing Shenzhou 20 crews. Full HD:https://youtu.be/5CWbvj6s7tA

Shenzhou-21 spacecraft was used as the return module for the Shenzhou-20 crew.

GeneralValue 3.5Nov 14, 2025*Shenzhou-20 crew returned to Earth as expected within reentry window *They used their colleagues' SZ-21 spacecraft as SZ-20 return module window has minor crack, likely due to a debris impact *Uncrewed Shenzhou-22 with cargo will be launched to Tiangong for SZ-21 astrosnauts

The Shenzhou 21 spacecraft launched on October 31.

PlanGeneralValue 4.0Nov 14, 2025The Shenzhou 21 spacecraft, launched on Oct 31, departed Tiangong space station today for a record-breaking short 13-day mission, rescuing Shenzhou 20 crews. Full HD:https://youtu.be/5CWbvj6s7tA

CMSA announced that the Shenzhou-21 spacecraft, carrying Shenzhou-20 astronauts, departed the China Space Station at 03:14 UTC.

PlanValue 2.5Nov 14, 2025Just in: CMSA announces that Shenzhou-21 spacecraft, carrying Shenzhou-20 astronauts, has departed the China Space Station at 03:14UTC. Landing planned around 08:30UTC. The agency also disclosed that micro cracks were found in Shenzhou-20's porthole, deeming it unsafe for re-entry. But Shenzhou-20 will not be disposed of soon. It will instead stay docked with the space station as an experiment platform.

Shenzhou 21's mission is record-breaking for its short duration.

GeneralValue 1.5Nov 14, 2025The Shenzhou 21 spacecraft, launched on Oct 31, departed Tiangong space station today for a record-breaking short 13-day mission, rescuing Shenzhou 20 crews. Full HD:https://youtu.be/5CWbvj6s7tA

Zhang Lu, Wu Fei, and Zhang Hongzhang are part of the Shenzhou-21 crew onboard the Tiangong space station.

GovernanceValue 3.6Nov 14, 2025Shenzhou-20 Taikonauts Return Aboard Shenzhou-21 Spacecraft Following Debris Concerns

The Shenzhou-21 spacecraft softly touched down on November 14th at 16:41 pm China Standard Time.

GeneralValue 3.5Nov 14, 2025Shenzhou-20 Taikonauts Return Aboard Shenzhou-21 Spacecraft Following Debris Concerns

Shenzhou 21's mission included rescuing the Shenzhou 20 crew.

PlanValue 3.8Nov 14, 2025The Shenzhou 21 spacecraft, launched on Oct 31, departed Tiangong space station today for a record-breaking short 13-day mission, rescuing Shenzhou 20 crews. Full HD:https://youtu.be/5CWbvj6s7tA

Shenzhou-20 astronauts CHEN Dong, CHEN Zhongrui, and WANG Jie safely landed in the Shenzhou-21 return capsule at the DongFeng landing site.

GeneralValue 4.0Nov 14, 2025🎉 Welcome home. Shenzhou-20 astronauts CHEN Dong, CHEN Zhongrui and WANG Jie, in Shenzhou-21 return capsule, safely landed at DongFeng landing site at 08:40UTC.

The Shenzhou-21 spacecraft undocked from the Tianhe module’s forward-facing port at the Tiangong Space Station at 11:14 am China Standard Time on November 14th.

PlanGeneralValue 4.0Nov 14, 2025Shenzhou-20 Taikonauts Return Aboard Shenzhou-21 Spacecraft Following Debris Concerns

Shenzhou 21 departed Tiangong space station for a 13-day mission.

PlanGeneralValue 4.0Nov 14, 2025The Shenzhou 21 spacecraft, launched on Oct 31, departed Tiangong space station today for a record-breaking short 13-day mission, rescuing Shenzhou 20 crews. Full HD:https://youtu.be/5CWbvj6s7tA

The crew of Shenzhou-21 included Commander Chen Dong, Operator Chen Zhongrui, and Science Operator Wang Jie.

GovernanceGeneralValue 2.2Nov 14, 2025Shenzhou-20 Taikonauts Return Aboard Shenzhou-21 Spacecraft Following Debris Concerns

Shenzhou 21 departed the Tiangong space station for a 13-day mission.

PlanValue 4.0Nov 14, 2025The Shenzhou 21 spacecraft, launched on Oct 31, departed Tiangong space station today for a record-breaking short 13-day mission, rescuing Shenzhou 20 crews. Full HD:https://youtu.be/5CWbvj6s7tA

Shenzhou-21 undocked from Tiangong at 0314 UTC with astronauts Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui, and Wang Jie aboard.

PlanCapabilityValue 4.0Nov 14, 2025Shenzhou-20 crew coming home on the Shenzhou-21 spacecraft: SZ-21 undocked from Tiangong at 0314 UTC with astronauts Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui and Wang Jie aboard. CMSEO revealed there's a Shenzhou-20 spacecraft's return capsule window glass developed a minor crack and thus unsafe

The Shenzhou-20 and Shenzhou-21 crews spent thirteen days together onboard the Tiangong space station.

GeneralValue 3.0Nov 14, 2025Shenzhou-20 Taikonauts Return Aboard Shenzhou-21 Spacecraft Following Debris Concerns

The landing of Shenzhou-21 is planned for around 08:30 UTC.

PlanValue 4.0Nov 14, 2025Just in: CMSA announces that Shenzhou-21 spacecraft, carrying Shenzhou-20 astronauts, has departed the China Space Station at 03:14UTC. Landing planned around 08:30UTC. The agency also disclosed that micro cracks were found in Shenzhou-20's porthole, deeming it unsafe for re-entry. But Shenzhou-20 will not be disposed of soon. It will instead stay docked with the space station as an experiment platform.

The Shenzhou 21 spacecraft was launched on October 31.

PlanValue 4.0Nov 14, 2025The Shenzhou 21 spacecraft, launched on Oct 31, departed Tiangong space station today for a record-breaking short 13-day mission, rescuing Shenzhou 20 crews. Full HD:https://youtu.be/5CWbvj6s7tA

The crew will conduct experiments with the Shenzhou-21 crew.

PlanValue 2.8Nov 13, 2025Shenzhou-20 crew return mission back on track after delay. Safety assessments ongoing, emergency plans activated. Space station prepped for crew to stay in orbit, conducting experiments with Shenzhou-21 crew. Crew safety is top priority. Source:https://m.weibo.cn/status/QdCvatPOT