Shenzhou-21 Launch: China's Youngest Astronaut Heads to Tiangong
China launched the Shenzhou-21 crewed mission to its Tiangong space station on October 31, 2025 — the mission includes China’s youngest astronaut ever, plus four mice carried for biology experiments in space.
Who is on the mission?
The crew consists of Commander Zhang Lu, flight engineer Wu Fei — age 32, now the youngest Chinese astronaut to go to Tiangong — and payload specialist Zhang Hongzhang.
Why are mice on board?
China wants to observe small mammal adaptation and reproduction in microgravity — an important step toward future long-duration missions in space.
A fast docking milestone
Shenzhou-21 docked with Tiangong in just 3.5 hours — a national record for China’s human space program — improving future crew rotation efficiency.
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