China successfully launched the Shenzhou-21 manned spacecraft on Friday (31/10) and sent three astronauts into space orbit for a six-month mission.
The spacecraft, carried on a Long March-2F rocket, blasted off at 11:44 a.m. Beijing time from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in southwest China.
Ten minutes after launch, the spacecraft began separating from the rocket and entering orbit. The China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) said the astronauts were in good condition and the Shenzhou-21 manned spacecraft launched safely.
After entering orbit, the Shenzhou-21 manned spacecraft performed an automated fast rendezvous and docking with the forward port of Tianhe, the core module of China's space station, at 3:22 a.m. Beijing Time (2:22 a.m. WIB). The entire process took about 3.5 hours, according to the CMSA.
The three astronauts of the Shenzhou-21 spacecraft will then enter the Tianhe module. Meanwhile, the Shenzhou-20 crew prepared for their arrival.
The Shenzhou-21 mission set a new milestone, namely the fastest rendezvous and docking ever achieved in the history of Shenzhou missions.
This simulated image taken at the Beijing Aerospace Control Center (BACC) on November 1, 2025, shows the Shenzhou-21 manned spacecraft during an automated rendezvous and fast docking with the forward port of Tianhe, the core module of China's space station. (ANTARA/Xinhua/Jin Liwang)
Technical personnel monitor the rendezvous and docking of the Shenzhou-21 manned spacecraft with the space station from the Beijing Aerospace Control Center (BACC) on November 1, 2025. (ANTARA/Xinhua/Jin Liwang)
This simulated image taken at the Beijing Aerospace Control Center (BACC) on November 1, 2025, shows the Shenzhou-21 manned spacecraft conducting an automated fast rendezvous and docking with the forward port of Tianhe, the core module of China's space station.
