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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 crew replaced sampling lids in the combustion science experiment cabinet modules, cleaned samples from the thermocontainer cabinet experiment chamber, maintained motors on the gimbal mechanism, cleaned window covers, and replaced samples in the fluid physics experiment cabinet.

CapabilityGeneralValue 4.0Mar 29, 2026Shenzhou-21 Crew Tidy Up Tiangong Following Recent Second Spacewalk
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The Shenzhou-21 crew inspected and maintained the water dispenser and regenerative life support system on Tiangong Space Station.

CapabilityGeneralValue 4.0Mar 29, 2026Shenzhou-21 Crew Tidy Up Tiangong Following Recent Second Spacewalk

The Shenzhou-21 crew completed cabin air cleanliness tests, total volatile organic compound concentration tests, and ecological environment monitoring.

CapabilityValue 3.6Mar 29, 2026Shenzhou-21 Crew Tidy Up Tiangong Following Recent Second Spacewalk

The Shenzhou-21 crew was about to reach 150 days in orbit.

PlanGeneralValue 2.0Mar 29, 2026Shenzhou-21 Crew Tidy Up Tiangong Following Recent Second Spacewalk

The Shenzhou-21 crew consists of Zhang Lu, Wu Fei, and Zhang Hongzhang.

GeneralValue 2.8Mar 29, 2026Shenzhou-21 Crew Tidy Up Tiangong Following Recent Second Spacewalk

The Shenzhou-21 crew maintains daily exercise to counter the physiological effects of weightlessness.

CapabilityGeneralValue 2.5Mar 16, 2026Shenzhou-21 Taikonauts Perform Second Spacewalk, Harvest Space Tomatoes [SZ-21 EVA-2]

The Shenzhou-21 crew performed inspections and maintenance on life support system equipment.

CapabilityGeneralValue 3.2Mar 16, 2026Shenzhou-21 Taikonauts Perform Second Spacewalk, Harvest Space Tomatoes [SZ-21 EVA-2]

The Shenzhou-21 crew will conduct subsequent experiments with wheat, carrots, and Arabidopsis plants.

CapabilityPlanValue 3.2Mar 16, 2026Shenzhou-21 Taikonauts Perform Second Spacewalk, Harvest Space Tomatoes [SZ-21 EVA-2]

The Shenzhou-21 crew of Zhang Lu, Wu Fei, and Zhang Hongzhang completed a 7-hour spacewalk.

GeneralValue 4.0Mar 16, 2026I can’t believe this almost got buried on several other Chinese spaceflight news that I saw after sleeping out on the night. EVA “ended after ~7 hours at 11:35 UTC” BTW, and I wonder how many more EVAs would be needed before all the CSS’ extra MMOD shields got installed…

The Shenzhou-21 crew replaced the burner and sampling cover in the microgravity combustion science experiment cabinet.

CapabilityValue 3.5Mar 16, 2026Shenzhou-21 Taikonauts Perform Second Spacewalk, Harvest Space Tomatoes [SZ-21 EVA-2]

The Shenzhou-21 extravehicular activity included installing debris protection devices.

CapabilityValue 4.0Mar 16, 2026Didn't see the usual day-or-two-before heads-up for this, but China's human spaceflight agency announced Shenzhou-21 astronauts Zhang Lu & Wu Fei completed a 7-hour EVA at 1135 UTC today. The usual installation of debris protection devices among the tasks.

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

GeneralValue 3.6Mar 16, 2026Shenzhou-21 Taikonauts Perform Second Spacewalk, Harvest Space Tomatoes [SZ-21 EVA-2]

The Shenzhou-21 crew performed in-orbit medical rescue training to become more familiar with equipment locations and rescue procedures in microgravity.

CapabilityGeneralValue 3.0Mar 16, 2026Shenzhou-21 Taikonauts Perform Second Spacewalk, Harvest Space Tomatoes [SZ-21 EVA-2]

Zhang Hongzhang served as the Shenzhou-21 payload expert.

GovernanceValue 2.0Mar 16, 2026Shenzhou-21 Taikonauts Perform Second Spacewalk, Harvest Space Tomatoes [SZ-21 EVA-2]

The Shenzhou-21 crew photographed and harvested ripe cherry tomatoes.

CapabilityGeneralValue 3.8Mar 16, 2026Shenzhou-21 Taikonauts Perform Second Spacewalk, Harvest Space Tomatoes [SZ-21 EVA-2]

Zhang Hongzhang was making his first trip into space on Shenzhou-21.

GeneralValue 3.5Mar 16, 2026Shenzhou-21 Taikonauts Perform Second Spacewalk, Harvest Space Tomatoes [SZ-21 EVA-2]

The Shenzhou-21 crew performed vacuum pumping and exhaust gas venting in the microgravity combustion science experiment cabinet.

CapabilityGeneralValue 4.0Mar 16, 2026Shenzhou-21 Taikonauts Perform Second Spacewalk, Harvest Space Tomatoes [SZ-21 EVA-2]

The Shenzhou-21 crew cleaned samples in containerless experimental chambers.

CapabilityValue 3.5Mar 16, 2026Shenzhou-21 Taikonauts Perform Second Spacewalk, Harvest Space Tomatoes [SZ-21 EVA-2]

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

CapabilityGeneralValue 3.0Mar 16, 2026Shenzhou-21 Taikonauts Perform Second Spacewalk, Harvest Space Tomatoes [SZ-21 EVA-2]

Wu Fei served as the Shenzhou-21 flight engineer.

GovernanceValue 3.0Mar 16, 2026Shenzhou-21 Taikonauts Perform Second Spacewalk, Harvest Space Tomatoes [SZ-21 EVA-2]