Zhang Lu to Command Shenzhou-21 as China Prepares Space Mission
- Ritambhara K
- Nov 2
- 2 min read
This undated photo shows the Shenzhou-21 crew — Zhang Lu (C), Wu Fei (R) and Zhang Hongzhang (L). Credit: Xinhua
China is preparing to send a new group of astronauts to its space station, as the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) officially announced that Zhang Lu, Wu Fei, and Zhang Hongzhang will form the crew of the upcoming Shenzhou-21 mission. Zhang Lu will serve as the mission commander, leading his team on a journey that marks another important milestone in China’s expanding space program.
According to CMSA spokesperson Zhang Jingbo, the Shenzhou-21 crewed spacecraft is scheduled to lift off at 11:44 p.m. Beijing Time on Friday from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China. This mission will be China’s sixth manned mission since its space station entered the application and development phase, and the 37th mission of the nation’s crewed spaceflight program overall.
The three-member crew represents the full spectrum of astronaut roles currently used in China’s space program: a spacecraft pilot, a flight engineer, and a payload specialist. Zhang Lu, a seasoned astronaut, previously flew on the Shenzhou-15 mission and brings valuable operational experience to the team. His crewmates, Wu Fei and Zhang Hongzhang, are both part of the third batch of Chinese astronauts, and this will be their first journey into space.
Before joining the astronaut corps, Wu Fei worked as an engineer at the China Academy of Space Technology under the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. Zhang Hongzhang, on the other hand, was a researcher at the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, affiliated with the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Their selection highlights China’s emphasis on combining scientific expertise with aerospace engineering in its human spaceflight missions.
Once in orbit, the Shenzhou-21 crew will dock with the Chinese space station and conduct an in-orbit rotation with the current Shenzhou-20 crew. The handover will ensure the station remains continuously staffed. The new crew is expected to stay in orbit for about six months.
During their mission, the astronauts will undertake a wide range of tasks, including scientific research, space station maintenance, and technology demonstrations. They will perform extravehicular activities (spacewalks), handle incoming cargo, install space debris protection systems, and deploy or retrieve equipment outside the station. Additionally, they will contribute to educational outreach, conducting science classes for students on Earth, and participating in public welfare events.
The crew is also scheduled to receive two spacecraft during their mission — the Tianzhou-10 cargo spacecraft and the Shenzhou-22 crewed spacecraft. These arrivals will provide logistics support and ensure smooth crew turnover.
After completing their duties and transferring responsibilities to the Shenzhou-21 team, the Shenzhou-20 astronauts will return to Earth, landing at the Dongfeng site in Inner Mongolia.
With Shenzhou-21, China continues to demonstrate its ambition and growing capabilities in space exploration, strengthening its presence in low-Earth orbit and contributing to global space science and innovation.
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