China launches youngest-ever astronaut and mice to space station

China launched its Shenzhou-21 spacecraft early Friday, carrying a three-person crew and four mice on a six-month mission to the Tiangong space station. The mission, which lifted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, includes China's youngest astronaut to date and marks the nation's sixth crewed spaceflight.

Scientific Experiments in Orbit

During their extended stay, the astronaut crew, known as taikonauts, will perform 27 new scientific and applied research projects. Key areas of focus include space life science, biotechnology, and aerospace medicine. The experiments are designed to provide critical data for future long-duration space missions and scientific applications.

Rodent Research in Microgravity

A notable aspect of the mission involves transporting four mice—two males and two females—to the orbiting laboratory for the first time. Scientists will study how space conditions, particularly microgravity and confinement, affect rodent behavior and physiology. After the mission, researchers will examine the impact of the space environment on the animals' organs and tissues.

Advancing China's Space Program

The Shenzhou-21 mission represents another step forward for China's ambitious space program, which has rapidly advanced its capabilities in human spaceflight and orbital research. As this new crew begins its work, the previous Shenzhou-20 crew has completed 188 days in orbit, with Commander Chen Dong setting new national records for cumulative time in space and spacewalk activities.