The Shenzhou-21 crew completed human-machine coordination, space utilization research, metacognitive monitoring research, on-orbit emotional state testing, and an emergency decision-making capability assessment using laptops and experimental software.

Shenzhou-21 crew performed fluid physics operations including replacing samples in the fluid physics experiment cabinet and cleaning and replacing gun barrel samples in the containerless cabinet.

Shenzhou-21 reached its three-month point in orbit during the week of the Tiangong TV episode dated February 1st, 2026.

The Shenzhou-21 crew completed station environment tasks including wind speed and temperature measurements, personal noise exposure dose measurements, and station environment organization.

Zhang Hongzhang is the Payload Expert for Shenzhou-21 on his first spaceflight.

The Tiangong TV episode dated February 1st, 2026 was originally produced by the China Manned Space Agency and was cloned to YouTube for archival.

An uncrewed Shenzhou-20 spacecraft returned to Earth following debris damage.

Zhang Lu served in the People’s Liberation Army Air Force and achieved the rank of Senior Colonel.

Zhang Hongzhang joined the Communist Party of China in 2004.

The Shenzhou-21 crew underwent medical examinations including dynamic electrocardiogram and blood pressure monitoring, non-invasive cardiac function tests, abdominal, vascular, and muscular ultrasounds, bone density measurements, and hearing tests.

Zhang Lu is the Commander and Pilot of Shenzhou-21 on his second spaceflight.

The Shenzhou-21 mission crew consists of Zhang Lu, Wu Fei, and Zhang Hongzhang aboard the Tiangong Space Station.

Before his selection, Wu Fei worked as an engineer at the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.

After the Shenzhou-15 mission, Zhang Lu received the Spaceflight Merit Medal (Third Class) and the honorary title of hero taikonaut.

Zhang Lu was selected as part of China’s second taikonaut group in 2010.

Zhang Lu was born in November 1976 and is from Hanshou County, Hunan province.

Zhang Hongzhang was born in 1986, is from Binzhou, Shandong province, and was selected as part of China’s third taikonaut group in October 2020.

Zhang Lu joined the Communist Party of China in April 1999.

Wu Fei joined the Communist Party of China in 2015.

Wu Fei is the Flight Engineer for Shenzhou-21 on his first spaceflight.

Zhang Lu previously flew on the Shenzhou-15 mission between November 2022 and June 2023.

The Tiangong Space Station orbits at approximately 400 kilometers above Earth.

Prior to selection as a taikonaut, Zhang Hongzhang was a researcher at the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, working on new materials and battery technologies.

The Shenzhou-21 crew conducted planned lower-limb force stimulation tests using adhesive abdominal equipment, collecting electromyography and muscle ultrasound data during exercise in microgravity.

The Community of Madrid highlights investment in Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas airport, the Tres Cantos technology park, and Airbus’s presence in Getafe as attractions for its aerospace cluster.

Thales, Airbus, and Leonardo are merging their space activities into a joint venture projected to have a workforce of 25,000 people and annual revenues of 6,500 million.

Thales Alenia Space operates a site in Tres Cantos where 450 professionals work in facilities specialized in the design and manufacture of satellite subsystems and payloads.

Madrid regional officials met with representatives of the governments of Lombardy and Piedmont to advance joint collaboration on sharing best practices across industries including automotive, biopharma, semiconductors, and aerospace with a focus on internationalization of Madrid companies.

The Madrid delegation visited Thales Alenia Space and other Italian companies that have a footprint in the Community of Madrid.

Thales Alenia Space’s Tres Cantos facilities are among the most important in Europe for satellite subsystems and payloads.

Rocío Albert’s institutional visit to Italy included Milan and was accompanied by Jaime Martínez, Director General of Economy and Industry of the Community of Madrid, and Luis Socías, Executive Director of Invest in Madrid.

The aerospace and aeronautics sectors employ nearly 14,000 people in the Community of Madrid, representing 33.7% of Spain’s total employment in those sectors.

Rocío Albert, the Regional Minister of Economy, Finance and Employment of the Community of Madrid, visited Thales Alenia Space’s headquarters in Turin, Italy.

The Community of Madrid concentrates 53.7% of Spain’s aerospace and aeronautics business volume.

A New Shepard crewed flight from launch to landing lasts about 10 minutes.

New Shepard flights cross the Kármán line at approximately 100 kilometers above the ground and then return.

New Shepard crewed flights have flown 38 times and carried 98 people.

New Shepard passengers have included celebrities and investors.

New Shepard began crewed flights in 2021.

Blue Origin is prioritizing completion of the New Glenn heavy rocket and a lunar lander.

Blue Origin holds a contract to support NASA’s Artemis lunar landing efforts.

Blue Origin is pausing New Shepard crewed flights to concentrate personnel and budget on developing heavy rockets and lunar landers for sending humans to the Moon.

In December 2025, New Shepard carried the first woman who uses a wheelchair on a spaceflight.

New Shepard crewed flights provide passengers a short period of microgravity.

Blue Origin, led by Jeff Bezos, will pause crewed tourist flights of its New Shepard suborbital spacecraft for at least two years.

Astra has 13,620 planned satellites and has not yet launched them.

Globalstar has 3,080 planned satellites and has not yet launched them.

Starlink achieved more than 10,000 launched satellites by October 2025.

Re-entries from medium-to-large satellites and rocket bodies used for launches would pose a growing risk to people on the ground, at sea, and in aircraft.

Very large (>10,000 satellite) constellations have been filed by Rwanda, Germany, Spain, Norway, France, and the Solomon Islands.