This undated photo shows Shenzhou-21 crew members Zhang Lu (C), Wu Fei (R) and Zhang Hongzhang. Chinese astronauts Zhang Lu, Wu Fei and Zhang Hongzhang will carry out the Shenzhou-21 crewed spaceflight mission, and Zhang Lu will be the commander, the China Manned Space Agency announced at a press conference on Thursday. Photo: Xinhua
The Shenzhou-21 crewed spaceship is scheduled to be launched at 11:44 pm Friday (Beijing Time) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Northwest China, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) on Thursday during a press conference.
The spokesperson for CMSA noted that this mission marks the sixth crewed flight during the application and development phase of China's space station, and the 37th flight mission of the country's manned space program.
The main objectives of the mission are to complete an in-orbit crew rotation with the Shenzhou-20 crew, stay aboard the space station for about six months, and carry out space science and application tasks.
The Shenzhou-21 crew consists of three astronauts: spacecraft pilot Zhang Lu, flight engineer Wu Fei, and payload specialist Zhang Hongzhang, with Zhang Lu serving as the mission commander.
This is the second crew composed of all three astronaut types -- pilot, flight engineer, and payload specialist -- following the Shenzhou-16 mission. The team spans three generations, representing those born in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s.
Commander Zhang Lu will be returning to the Tiangong space station after more than two years, while Wu Fei and Zhang Hongzhang, both from China's third batch of astronauts, are set to embark on their maiden spaceflights. Wu Fei will also become the youngest Chinese astronaut to participate in a space mission to date.
The astronauts will also conduct extravehicular activities and manage cargo transfers in and out of the modules, install debris protection devices, mount and retrieve external payloads and facilities, as well as engage in science education and public outreach activities. In addition, they will conduct space-based experiments to further enhance the comprehensive benefits of the space station's applications, according to the spokesperson.
According to the plan, during their stay in orbit, the Shenzhou-21 crew will carry out 27 new scientific and application projects, focusing on key scientific issues in fields such as space life science and biotechnology, aerospace medicine.
Among them, China will for the first time conduct an in-orbit space experiment involving rodent mammals. Four mice -- two males and two females -- will travel with the spacecraft and be raised in orbit. The experiment aims to study how microgravity and confined space environments affect mouse behavior patterns. After returning to Earth with the spacecraft, scientists will further analyze how multiple organs and tissues in mice respond and adapt to the stress of the space environment.
The crew will also conduct an experiment on the relationship between the origin of the genetic code and molecular chirality in space, exploring the selectivity among different chiral combinations of amino acids and nucleotides.
In addition, Shenzhou-21 carries several payload experiments designed for space applications, including in-situ electrochemical and optical studies of lithium-ion batteries. These experiments will provide valuable data for future scientific research and lay a solid foundation for further in-orbit applications.
The CMSA spokesperson said at the conference that the Shenzhou-20 crew has been in orbit for 188 days and is on track to set a new record for the longest space stay by a Chinese astronaut crew. All three astronauts are in good condition, and the mission is progressing smoothly.
Chen Dong, the commander of the Shenzhou-20 crew, has become the first Chinese astronaut to spend more than 400 days in space. He has completed six extravehicular activities (EVAs) in total, making him the Chinese astronaut with the most spacewalks to date.