China Launches Shenzhou-21 with First Live Mammals to Space

China successfully launched its Shenzhou-21 spacecraft on October 13, 2023, carrying a three-person crew to its Tiangong space station. This mission, focused on scientific research, marks a significant milestone as it will include live mammals for the first time in the nation’s space endeavors. The launch occurred at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China just before midnight local time.

The crew aboard Shenzhou-21 consists of Zhang Lu, Wu Fei, and Zhang Hongzhang. This mission is designed to replace the crew currently residing on the Tiangong station from the previous Shenzhou-20 mission, which launched on April 24, 2023. The outgoing team has been in space for approximately six months, although the exact date of their return has not been disclosed.

During their time in space, the Shenzhou-21 crew is scheduled to conduct a total of 27 scientific and applied research projects. These projects will span various fields, including space life sciences, biotechnology, space medicine, and microgravity fluid physics. Notably, the spacecraft will carry four mice—two males and two females—marking the first instance of live mammals launched into space by China. Previous missions to the Tiangong station have only included live fish.

The primary aim of studying the mice is to observe how microgravity and confined space conditions affect their behavior. Commander Zhang Lu has previously flown on the Shenzhou-15 mission, while his colleagues are making their first spaceflight. Notably, Wu Fei, born in 1993, will become the youngest taikonaut in China’s history.

“I feel incomparably lucky,” Wu stated during a press conference ahead of 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 gained momentum since it was excluded from the International Space Station project. The country has actively pursued its “space dream,” a vision articulated by President Xi Jinping. Since the Tiangong station became operational in 2021, China has plans to welcome international partners aboard the facility, including a Pakistani national for a future short-term mission. The cooperation agreement signed in February has initiated the selection process for Pakistani candidates, who will undergo training alongside Chinese taikonauts.

During a recent news conference, Zhang Jingbo, spokesperson for the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA), expressed the agency’s openness to international collaboration. This approach aligns with China’s broader ambitions in space exploration, including plans to land astronauts on the moon by 2030.

China has already made significant strides towards lunar exploration, having successfully landed unmanned probes on the moon, including a mission that collected samples from the far side of the moon in 2022. Zhang reiterated the CMSA’s determination to achieve its lunar goals, stating, “Overall, the research and construction has been running smoothly, with China aiming to achieve the goal of landing Chinese astronauts on the moon before 2030.”

As Shenzhou-21 embarks on its mission, it not only represents a new chapter in China’s human spaceflight program but also highlights the nation’s commitment to advancing scientific research and international cooperation in space exploration.