Shenzhou-20 separated its orbital module, performed a deorbit burn, and separated its service module as planned during return operations.

On December 9, 2025, Shenzhou-21 crew conducted close-range photography of Shenzhou-20 reentry capsule portholes using high-definition cameras to confirm the status of cracks.

Shenzhou-20’s uncrewed reentry module touched down at 09:34 China Standard Time on January 19, 2026 (01:34 UTC).

Shenzhou-21 crew performed routine tasks including organizing station supplies, cleaning the environment, inspecting and maintaining equipment, undergoing medical examinations such as hearing tests, and conducting regular physical exercises like running.

Zhang Lu was born in November 1976, is from Hanshou County, Hunan province, was selected as part of China’s second taikonaut group in 2010, served in the People’s Liberation Army Air Force, achieved the rank of Senior Colonel, joined the Communist Party of China in April 1999, and received the Spaceflight Merit Medal (Third Class) and the honorary title of hero taikonaut after Shenzhou-15.

Shenzhou-21 crew used a space-based Raman spectrometer to detect metabolic components in urine samples for improving characteristic metabolite indicator systems and evaluation criteria.

Shenzhou-20 spent 270 days docked to the Tiangong Space Station’s Earth-facing docking port.

A debris strike to one of Shenzhou-20’s windows in the days before its original return date caused Shenzhou-20’s return to be delayed.

The Feitian spacesuit returned was an older-generation suit that underwent a design life extension and was last used in August 2025.

Shenzhou-21 crew completed sample collection and storage for a research project investigating the relationship between the origin of the genetic code and chirality of amino acids and nucleosides in the space environment.

The Tiangong Space Station crew brought the robot crewmate Xiao Hang back online and conducted touch interaction and autonomous flight tests to collect data for planning robotic motion behaviors in orbit.

Zhang Lu is the Commander and Pilot of Shenzhou-21 on his second spaceflight and previously flew on Shenzhou-15 between November 2022 and June 2023.

Shenzhou-21 crew collected saliva samples to research taikonauts’ impact on the space station environment and microbial populations, with samples to undergo centralized testing upon return.

Shenzhou-21 crew replaced the sampling cover inside the combustion science experimental cabinet and disassembled and assembled experimental modules inside the fluid physics experimental cabinet during the week.

Shenzhou-23 spacecraft is at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center and is prepared to be on standby until its planned mission in April.

The returned Feitian spacesuit was identifiable by blue stripes and should not be confused with an improved suit that shares the same stripe color.

Shenzhou-20 undocked from the Tiangong Space Station at 00:23 China Standard Time on January 18, 2026 (16:23 UTC, January 18).

Shenzhou-20 returned to Earth on January 19, 2026 uncrewed and carrying cargo onboard.

The Tiangong Space Station conducted a station-wide pressure emergency drill that simulated Shenzhou-21 crew response to an internal depressurization event to consolidate emergency response and ground-space coordination skills.

Shenzhou-21’s crew returned to Earth in November 2025 aboard Shenzhou-21, taking the crew home after the window damage incident on Shenzhou-20.

Shenzhou-21 crew conducted in-situ electrochemical and optical research on lithium-ion batteries for space applications aboard the Tiangong Space Station.

The Neutralization Units (NFU) are part of the launcher suite and the flight safety subsystem, a component used during all mission phases from ground to orbit.

Sixty-five percent of satellites in orbit belong to private U.S. operators.

Thales Alenia Space’s Charleroi site will supply the control electronics for the three TVAS of Ariane 6.

Thales Alenia Space previously signed a contract with ArianeGroup in June during the Paris Air Show to supply 128 Neutralization Units (NFU).

The electronics of the Ariane 6 flight safety system are designed and manufactured entirely by Thales Alenia Space teams in Belgium.

Thales Alenia Space signed a contract on Thursday 15 January to supply 179 electronic units for 27 Ariane 6 launchers.

Pierre Desmaele is CEO of Thales Alenia Space in Belgium.

Thales Alenia Space in Belgium has more than fifty years of experience in space transportation dating to the early 1970s and has developed and manufactured thousands of components and systems for the European launcher portfolio including Ariane 1 through Ariane 5 and now Ariane 6.

Sabca’s director general is Samuel Weynants.

Vanessa Martz is the Belgian federal minister of Public Action and Modernization responsible for public enterprises, public administration, state asset management, digital technology, and science policy.

The electronic units will provide the electronics that power and control the thrusters of each Ariane 6 stage and the booster rockets to maintain attitude after launch.

The TVAS for Ariane 6 control the launcher trajectory and move the nozzles of the P120C booster rockets, the main cryogenic stage (Lower Liquid Propulsion Module - LLPM), and the restartable upper cryogenic stage (Upper Liquid Propulsion Module - ULPM).

Thales Alenia Space signed the contract with Sabca, the Belgian company responsible for the Thrust Vectoring Systems (TVAS), which will integrate the units manufactured by Thales Alenia Space in Belgium.

Thales Alenia Space in Belgium is the supplier for the Ariane 6 family and for the flight safety system that suspends a launch if the rocket deviates from its trajectory to protect people and property.

The SAT Streamlining Act requires coordination between the Federal Communications Commission and the Department of Commerce’s Assistant Secretary to streamline the license review process.

The SAT Streamlining Act caps any single Federal Communications Commission extension at 90 days and allows a maximum of two such extensions.

The Satellite Industry Association supports standardizing the regulatory review process to prevent unnecessary licensing delays to help ensure American innovation, industry investment, and U.S. leadership in the global space economy.

The SAT Streamlining Act requires the Federal Communications Commission to process minor technical license modifications within 90 days.

The SAT Streamlining Act aims to expand broadband access to underserved areas and to incentivize commercial satellite operators to base operations in the United States rather than in foreign jurisdictions with less burdensome application processes.

U.S. Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Senator Peter Welch (D-VT) introduced bipartisan legislation called the SAT Streamlining Act in the U.S. Senate.

The SAT Streamlining Act requires the Federal Communications Commission to decide license renewals within 180 days.

The SAT Streamlining Act establishes a one-year deadline for the Federal Communications Commission to approve or deny license applications for satellite operations.

The SAT Streamlining Act mandates expedited 30-day reviews for certain equipment replacement requests.

The SAT Streamlining Act would prevent state and local governments from regulating rates charged by satellite operators.

The SAT Streamlining Act standardizes market access for foreign satellite systems operating in the United States by capping licenses at 15 years.

The one-year FCC decision deadline in the SAT Streamlining Act applies to license applications for geostationary and non-geostationary orbit space stations and earth stations.

The 15-year license cap for foreign satellite systems under the SAT Streamlining Act aligns foreign license terms with the 15-year approval term applied to U.S. companies.

If the Federal Communications Commission misses the one-year deadlines established by the SAT Streamlining Act, license applications would be automatically approved.

The SAT Streamlining Act limits Federal Communications Commission extensions of review periods to extraordinary circumstances involving danger to life, property, or national security.