China Launches Shenzhou-21 with First Live Mammals to Space

China launched its Shenzhou-21 spacecraft on October 13, 2023, sending a new three-person crew to the Tiangong space station. This mission marks a significant milestone as it includes live mammals for the first time, highlighting China’s growing capabilities in space exploration.

The Shenzhou-21 mission took off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China shortly before midnight local time, which corresponds to around 11 a.m. Eastern Time. The crew comprises Zhang Lu, Wu Fei, and Zhang Hongzhang. This team will replace the existing crew from the Shenzhou-20 mission, which launched on April 24, 2023. The exact timeline for the return of the current crew is still to be announced.

During their stay aboard the Tiangong station, the Shenzhou-21 crew is set to conduct 27 scientific and applied research projects. These projects will encompass various fields, including space life sciences, biotechnology, space medicine, and microgravity fluid physics, among others. The inclusion of live mammals, specifically four mice—two males and two females—adds a new dimension to the mission. The crew will study how microgravity affects the behavior of these mice, an initiative that seeks to understand biological processes in space.

Zhang Lu will lead the mission as commander. Notably, Wu Fei, born in 1993, becomes the youngest taikonaut to participate in a space mission for China. “I feel incomparably lucky,” he expressed to reporters prior to the launch. “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 Expanding Space Ambitions

China’s space program has advanced significantly since it was excluded from the International Space Station initiative, primarily due to concerns from the U.S. government about China’s military oversight. Under President Xi Jinping, the country aims to realize its “space dream,” which includes long-term goals like establishing a lunar base and sending taikonauts to the moon by 2030.

The Chinese space station has been operational since 2021, and the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) has indicated plans to include non-Chinese astronauts in its missions. A cooperation agreement was signed in February 2023, allowing for a Pakistani national to undertake a short-term space mission in the future. The selection process for training two Pakistani candidates is already underway, with plans for them to train alongside Chinese taikonauts.

CMSA spokesperson Zhang Jingbo emphasized during a recent news conference that international collaboration is welcomed aboard the Tiangong space station. This aligns with China’s broader goal of complementing its lunar ambitions with ongoing research in space.

As preparations continue for future lunar missions and international partnerships, China’s commitment to advancing its space exploration capabilities remains evident. With successful missions like Shenzhou-21, the nation appears well-positioned to achieve its objectives in the coming years.