🚀 Get ready for liftoff! On Friday at 11:44 p.m. Beijing Time, the China Manned Space Agency will send its Shenzhou-21 crewed spacecraft into orbit from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the northwest of the Chinese mainland.
Three taikonauts—commander Zhang Lu, Wu Fei and Zhang Hongzhang—will spend six months aboard the Chinese mainland's space station. Their goals? Space science experiments, technology tests and maintenance work high above Earth.
Commander Zhang Lu is no stranger to space. He flew on Shenzhou-15, logged 186 days in orbit and completed four spacewalks. Zhang describes this mission as both a return to space and a greater responsibility. Stepping into the commander role means guiding two younger teammates, keeping them safe and making split-second decisions.
Here's a quick look at what's on the agenda:
- 🔬 Running zero-gravity experiments
- ⚙️ Testing new space technologies
- 🛠️ Station maintenance and repairs
With teamwork, tech and a dash of courage, the Shenzhou-21 crew is ready to make history. Stay tuned for updates as they blast off into their six-month adventure! 🌌
Reference(s):
Shenzhou-21 taikonauts share insights ahead of space mission
cgtn.com
