China Launches Shenzhou-21 with New Crew and Live Mammals

China launched its Shenzhou-21 spacecraft on March 15, 2024, carrying a three-member crew to the Tiangong space station. This mission marks a significant milestone as it includes the first live mammals sent into space by China. The launch took place at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, just before midnight local time.

The crew features three taikonauts: Zhang Lu, Wu Fei, and Zhang Hongzhang. They will replace the current crew from the Shenzhou-20 mission, which has been stationed at the Tiangong space station since April 24, 2023. The precise return date for the outgoing crew has not yet been announced.

The Shenzhou-21 mission is primarily focused on scientific research, with plans to conduct 27 projects across various fields, including space life sciences, biotechnology, and microgravity fluid physics. Notably, this mission includes four mice—two males and two females—the first live mammals ever launched by China into space. Previous missions to the Tiangong station carried live fish, but this marks a new phase in China’s biological research in microgravity.

Research Goals and Crew Details

The taikonauts will study the behavioral patterns of the mice under microgravity conditions. Commander Zhang Lu has previously served aboard the Shenzhou-15 mission and is returning with experience, while Wu Fei and Zhang Hongzhang are making their first journeys into space. Wu, born in 1993, is recognized as China’s youngest taikonaut, expressing his excitement by stating, “I feel incomparably lucky… being able to integrate my personal dreams into the glorious journey of China’s space program is the greatest fortune this era has bestowed upon me.”

China’s space program has expanded significantly since it was excluded from the International Space Station project. Under President Xi Jinping‘s leadership, the nation has pursued its “space dream,” which includes plans for a lunar base and missions to land taikonauts on the moon by 2030. The China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) has reported that preparations for lunar missions remain on track, following successful unmanned probes, including the first to collect samples from the moon’s far side in 2023.

International Collaboration and Future Plans

The CMSA has also announced plans to bring a non-Chinese crewmember aboard the Tiangong station. A Pakistani national is set to undertake a short-term space mission in collaboration with China, following a cooperation agreement signed in February 2024. The selection process for training a Pakistani candidate has already begun, with plans for logistical support.

During a recent news conference, Zhang Jingbo, a spokesperson for the CMSA, emphasized that China welcomes international partners for future missions. As China’s ambitious space objectives unfold, the nation continues to solidify its position as a key player in global space exploration, while also expanding its collaborative efforts.

The successful launch of Shenzhou-21 not only propels China’s scientific endeavors but also highlights its commitment to fostering international cooperation in space exploration.