Chinese spacecraft docks with space station for six-month mission

China's Shenzhou-21 crew has successfully arrived at the Tiangong space station following a smooth docking procedure early Saturday. The three taikonauts were welcomed by the existing Shenzhou-20 crew, marking the start of a five-day handover period where both teams will work and live together aboard the orbiting laboratory before the incumbent crew returns to Earth.

A Historic Crew and Unusual Passengers

The Shenzhou-21 mission, launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, includes China's youngest astronaut to date. The crew, commanded by Zhang Lu alongside flight engineer Wu Fei and payload specialist Zhang Hongzhang, also transported four mice—two males and two females—to the station. This represents the first time such animals have been sent to Tiangong for biological research in microgravity.

An Ambitious Scientific Agenda

During their planned six-month stay in orbit, the new crew will undertake a significant scientific program. The China Manned Space Agency has scheduled 27 new research projects across key disciplines. These investigations will focus on critical areas such as space life science, biotechnology, and aerospace medicine, contributing to China's growing expertise in long-duration human spaceflight.