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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

Zhang Hongzhang remained inside Tiangong during the Shenzhou-21 crew’s third spacewalk and supported Wu Fei and Zhang Lu from the station.

GeneralValue 3.7Apr 16, 2026Shenzhou-21 Mission Being Extended, Taikonauts Perform Another Spacewalk [SZ-21 EVA-3]

The Shenzhou-21 crew’s third spacewalk lasted about five and a half hours and ended at 01:36 China Standard Time on April 17.

Capability
Page3of18
General
Value 3.5
Apr 16, 2026
Shenzhou-21 Mission Being Extended, Taikonauts Perform Another Spacewalk [SZ-21 EVA-3]

The Shenzhou-21 crew was expected to return to Earth in early June after the extension.

PlanGeneralValue 3.0Apr 16, 2026Shenzhou-21 Mission Being Extended, Taikonauts Perform Another Spacewalk [SZ-21 EVA-3]

Zhang Lu completed his seventh extravehicular activity during the Shenzhou-21 crew’s third spacewalk.

CapabilityGeneralValue 4.0Apr 16, 2026Shenzhou-21 Mission Being Extended, Taikonauts Perform Another Spacewalk [SZ-21 EVA-3]

The Shenzhou-21 crew is wrapping up human health experiments in orbit before the return of NASA’s Artemis II mission within the next four weeks.

PlanValue 3.6Apr 13, 2026Shenzhou-21 Crew Begin Last Weeks Onboard Tiangong Before Return

Shenzhou-21 taikonauts Zhang Lu, Wu Fei, and Zhang Hongzhang are aboard the Tiangong Space Station.

GeneralGovernanceValue 3.8Apr 13, 2026Shenzhou-21 Crew Begin Last Weeks Onboard Tiangong Before Return

The Shenzhou-21 crew completed scheduled inspections and maintenance of cryogenic storage units, application fluid loop pumps, and life support system equipment.

CapabilityPlanValue 4.0Apr 13, 2026Shenzhou-21 Crew Begin Last Weeks Onboard Tiangong Before Return

The Shenzhou-21 crew completed blood sample collection, centrifuge processing, and storage for return as part of planned experiments on metabolic interaction regulation, space omics, and sleep.

CapabilityPlanValue 4.0Apr 13, 2026Shenzhou-21 Crew Begin Last Weeks Onboard Tiangong Before Return

The Shenzhou-21 crew used a space-based Raman spectrometer to analyze metabolic components in urine samples.

CapabilityValue 4.0Apr 13, 2026Shenzhou-21 Crew Begin Last Weeks Onboard Tiangong Before Return

Zhang Hongzhang is making his first trip to space on Shenzhou-21.

PlanValue 2.2Apr 13, 2026Shenzhou-21 Crew Begin Last Weeks Onboard Tiangong Before Return

The Shenzhou-21 crew uses space treadmills and resistance bands to exercise in orbit and counteract the physiological effects of microgravity.

CapabilityGeneralValue 4.0Apr 13, 2026Shenzhou-21 Crew Begin Last Weeks Onboard Tiangong Before Return

The Shenzhou-21 crew organized supplies and cleaned the cabin to maintain a habitable environment aboard the Tiangong Space Station.

CapabilityGeneralValue 2.0Apr 13, 2026Shenzhou-21 Crew Begin Last Weeks Onboard Tiangong Before Return

The Shenzhou-21 crew collected and froze saliva samples for analysis after return to Earth.

CapabilityValue 3.5Apr 13, 2026Shenzhou-21 Crew Begin Last Weeks Onboard Tiangong Before Return

The Shenzhou-21 crew replaced the burner and gas cylinders in the combustion science experiment cabinet.

CapabilityGeneralValue 4.0Apr 13, 2026Shenzhou-21 Crew Begin Last Weeks Onboard Tiangong Before Return

Wu Fei is making his first trip into space on Shenzhou-21.

GeneralValue 3.5Apr 13, 2026Shenzhou-21 Crew Begin Last Weeks Onboard Tiangong Before Return

The Shenzhou-20 crew returned to Earth on the Shenzhou-21 spacecraft.

GeneralPlanValue 3.0Apr 13, 2026Shenzhou-21 Crew Begin Last Weeks Onboard Tiangong Before Return

The Shenzhou-21 crew cleaned samples in the containerless experiment chamber, maintained mechanism motors, and cleaned the porthole cover lenses.

CapabilityValue 3.8Apr 13, 2026Shenzhou-21 Crew Begin Last Weeks Onboard Tiangong Before Return

The Shenzhou-21 crew has been in orbit for more than 160 days.

GeneralValue 3.0Apr 13, 2026Shenzhou-21 Crew Begin Last Weeks Onboard Tiangong Before Return

The Shenzhou-21 crew replaced samples in the fluid physics experiment cabinet.

GeneralValue 3.6Apr 13, 2026Shenzhou-21 Crew Begin Last Weeks Onboard Tiangong Before Return

The Shenzhou-21 crew is continuing to work aboard the Tiangong Space Station ahead of the Shenzhou-23 mission’s arrival and handover at the end of the month.

PlanGeneralValue 3.0Apr 13, 2026Shenzhou-21 Crew Begin Last Weeks Onboard Tiangong Before Return