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Shenzhou

retired

神舟一号

Human SpaceflightLEOCOSPAR 1999-061ALaunched 11/19/1999
Admin Edit
Mission & Launch
Launch Mission
Shenzhou Mission
Launch Vehicle
Long March 2F
Launch Date
11/19/1999
Last Contact
11/20/1999
Orbit & Mass
Orbit Class
LEO
Altitude
350 km
Inclination
42.48 deg
Dry Mass
3,300 kg
Total Mass
6,000 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
1999-061A
UN Registration
ST/SG/SER.E/475
Track
Mentions
150
All verified mentions of this spacecraft in source documents.
0.0-5.0
Actions

The Shenzhou XX crew, consisting of Senior Colonel Chen Dong, Colonel Chen Zhongrui, and Colonel Wang Jie, has occupied the Chinese space station since April 25, totaling more than six months in orbit.

GeneralValue 3.6Nov 6, 2025Space debris postpones Shenzhou XX astronauts Earth return

Taikonauts are assigned to Shenzhou missions at least one year in advance and after a two to three-month post-mission evaluation period.

Plan
Page6of8
General
Value 2.0
Nov 1, 2025
Mengzhou-1, Pakistani Visitor to Tiangong Set for 2026, CMSA Details

Mid-flight crewed Shenzhou undocking-docking has only been performed on Tiangong 1.

GeneralCapabilityValue 3.0Nov 1, 2025(And for anyone asking, MZ-1 wasn't listed as a mission that will be visiting during Shenzhou-21 so any launch before May 2026 can be ruled out) iirc mid-flight crewed shenzhou undocking-docking was only done on Tiangong 1, so I doubt it'll be done (twice) there.

Commander Chen Dong will hand over station management to the incoming Shenzhou XXI crew.

PlanGovernanceValue 3.2Oct 31, 2025China set to launch new crew to Tiangong space station

Shenzhou XXI astronauts are tasked with station operation, maintenance, and conducting 27 new research projects during their six-month stay.

PlanCapabilityValue 4.0Oct 31, 2025China set to launch new crew to Tiangong space station

The Shenzhou spacecraft currently has a crew capacity of three.

CapabilityValue 4.0Oct 31, 2025Shenzhou-21 Successfully Strides Into Orbit! [Long March 2F/G Y21]

The new crew of Shenzhou XXI will relieve the Shenzhou XX occupants, who have maintained Tiangong for more than six months.

GeneralValue 3.5Oct 31, 2025China set to launch new crew to Tiangong space station

Each Shenzhou spacecraft has an estimated launch weight of 8,100 kilograms and an in-space mass of 7,840 kilograms.

CapabilityValue 4.2Oct 31, 2025Shenzhou-21 Successfully Strides Into Orbit! [Long March 2F/G Y21]

Shenzhou XXI is led by Senior Colonel Zhang Lu, with crew members Wu Fei and Zhang Hongzhang.

GovernanceValue 3.0Oct 31, 2025China set to launch new crew to Tiangong space station

Additional mission objectives for Shenzhou XXI include spacewalks for debris shield installation, equipment deployment and retrieval, and educational outreach.

PlanCapabilityGeneralValue 4.0Oct 31, 2025China set to launch new crew to Tiangong space station

The Shenzhou spacecraft has a pressurized volume of almost fifteen cubic meters and a habitable volume of seven cubic meters.

CapabilityValue 4.3Oct 31, 2025Shenzhou-21 Successfully Strides Into Orbit! [Long March 2F/G Y21]

The Shenzhou spacecraft launches on the Long March 2F/G rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.

PlanValue 3.5Oct 31, 2025Shenzhou-21 Successfully Strides Into Orbit! [Long March 2F/G Y21]

Shenzhou XXI will perform a rapid autonomous rendezvous and docking with the Tianhe core module in under four hours after launch.

PlanCapabilityValue 4.2Oct 31, 2025China set to launch new crew to Tiangong space station

A Long March 2F/G lifted off from Launch Area 4 at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on October 31st, carrying a Shenzhou spacecraft with three taikonauts onboard into low Earth orbit.

PlanGeneralValue 4.5Oct 31, 2025Shenzhou-21 Successfully Strides Into Orbit! [Long March 2F/G Y21]

The Shenzhou-21 mission is the 21st flight of the Shenzhou vehicle and the 34th for the human exploration program.

PlanValue 3.0Oct 31, 2025Shenzhou-21 Successfully Strides Into Orbit! [Long March 2F/G Y21]

The Long March 2F/G launch vehicle is designed to send the Shenzhou spacecraft onto a rendezvous path with the Tiangong Space Station in three and a half hours.

PlanGeneralValue 4.0Oct 30, 2025Zhang Lu Will Lead Shenzhou-21 Mission to China's Tiangong Space Station

The Shenzhou spacecraft has a pressurized volume of almost fifteen cubic meters and a habitable volume of seven cubic meters.

CapabilityValue 4.5Oct 30, 2025Zhang Lu Will Lead Shenzhou-21 Mission to China's Tiangong Space Station

The believed launch weight of the Shenzhou spacecraft is 8,100 kilograms, with an in-space mass of 7,840 kilograms.

CapabilityValue 4.0Oct 30, 2025Zhang Lu Will Lead Shenzhou-21 Mission to China's Tiangong Space Station

The Shenzhou spacecraft currently launches on the Long March 2F/G rocket.

CapabilityPlanValue 2.5Oct 30, 2025Zhang Lu Will Lead Shenzhou-21 Mission to China's Tiangong Space Station

The Shenzhou spacecraft is China’s only operational crewed spacecraft with a crew capacity of three.

CapabilityValue 4.0Oct 30, 2025Zhang Lu Will Lead Shenzhou-21 Mission to China's Tiangong Space Station