Meet the young astronauts and mice on China’s latest Tiangong space mission

Astronauts Zhang Hongzhang, Wu Fei, and Zhang Lu greet crowds ahead of the Shenzhou-21 launch. (Image: Maxim Shemetov/Reuters)

China launched the Shenzhou-21 spacecraft to its Tiangong space station. The mission carried three astronauts and four trained lab mice. The crew included 32-year-old Wu Fei, China’s youngest astronaut ever.

The spacecraft lifted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in north-west China. It rode a Long March 2F rocket under bright morning skies.

Youngest Crew Member Joins Six-Month Stay

32-year-old, Wu Fei joined veterans Zhang Lu and Zhang Hongzhang on board. They will stay in orbit for about six months. Their work includes maintenance, spacewalks and biological studies. The mission also highlights China’s growing expertise in long-duration spaceflight.

Mice Chosen After Intensive Training

Four black lab mice also joined the mission. Scientists selected them from 300 candidates after 60 days of training. The mice will help study bone loss and muscle changes in microgravity. Cameras and sensors will monitor their behaviour inside a sealed habitat.

Why the Mission Matters? 

This mission strengthens China’s push for independent space research. Tiangong, meaning ‘Heavenly Palace,’ is now fully operational. The experiment aims to advance human health studies for future lunar and Mars missions.

Future Outlook

China plans more biological experiments aboard Tiangong in coming years. Scientists say results could aid human survival beyond Earth. Wu Fei’s flight also marks a generational shift in China’s space programme.