In a milestone for the Chinese mainland's space program, the Shenzhou-21 crew docked with the China Space Station and exchanged greetings with their Shenzhou-20 counterparts. As the two teams floated through the station's modules, they began a seamless handover of scientific experiments and station duties.
For days, the outgoing Shenzhou-20 crew has maintained the station's labs, conducting experiments on microgravity plant growth and materials science. Now, the fresh Shenzhou-21 team will take the baton, ensuring continuous research and upkeep. This rotation keeps the orbiting lab active around the clock, a key step toward longer missions and deeper space exploration.
Beyond the technical handoff, the meeting reflects a broader vision: fostering collaboration, innovation, and resilience. Each crew member brings unique expertise—whether robotics, space medicine, or engineering—fueling a diversity of ideas that drives progress in orbit.
Looking ahead, the Shenzhou-21 crew's extended mission promises new experiments, from sustainable life support systems to advanced Earth observations. As they settle into their roles, the global community watches, inspired by a new chapter in human spaceflight.
Reference(s):
China's Shenzhou-21 crew enters space station, meets Shenzhou-20 crew
cgtn.com
