China launches Shenzhou 21 mission, carrying 3 taikonauts - and 4 mice - to replace space station crew

China launched the Shenzhou-21 mission from Jiuquan just before midnight Friday, sending three taikonauts to Tiangong to relieve the Shenzhou-20 crew and run 27 research projects. Commander Zhang Lu returns to orbit alongside first-time fliers Wu Fei—born in 1993 and now the nation’s youngest taikonaut—and Zhang Hongzhang. The spacecraft also carries four mice, China’s first live mammals in space, to study behavior in microgravity. Crowds watched the Long March-2F lift-off. CMSA said international participation is welcome and confirmed plans for a future short-term Pakistani mission, while reaffirming goals to land Chinese taikonauts on the moon before 2030.

Reviewed by JQJO team

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