Space enthusiasts, get ready: the Chinese mainland is gearing up to launch Shenzhou-21, the latest crewed spacecraft headed to its orbital space station. Engineers at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the northwest of the Chinese mainland transferred the Long March-2F rocket carrying Shenzhou-21 to the launch area on a mobile platform early Friday.
The 42-meter rocket and spacecraft combo traveled 1.5 kilometers on a seamless rail from the testing hall to the launch tower, showcasing a rollout designed for speed and precision. This mission marks the 10th crewed flight to the station since construction kicked off in April 2021 and the sixth mission in the station’s application and development phase.
Once docked, the Shenzhou-21 crew will run experiments in microgravity, test advanced life-support systems, and collect data that could reshape materials science, biomedicine, and sustainable living beyond Earth. Each flight builds on the last, turning the station into a cutting-edge orbital laboratory.
While officials will confirm the exact liftoff date in the coming days, weather experts point to clear desert skies as ideal launch conditions. For young innovators, entrepreneurs, and global citizens, Shenzhou-21 highlights how space tech is evolving at breakneck pace—and why today’s rocket launches are tomorrow’s breakthroughs.
Stay tuned for live updates, expert insights, and data-driven analysis as the countdown continues. Whether you’re tracking the next space startup, planning zero-gravity research, or simply dreaming among the stars, Shenzhou-21 is poised to take you on a journey beyond our world.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
