China Launches Shenzhou-21 Mission: Youngest Astronaut and Lab Mice Journey to Tiangong Space Station

Nov 01, 2025 02:39 am CST

China launched its Shenzhou-21 mission to the Tiangong space station, featuring the country's youngest-ever astronaut Wu Fei (32) and four laboratory mice for scientific experiments. The three-person crew will conduct spacewalks, install anti-debris shields, and perform research as part of China's expanding space program, which aims for a crewed lunar mission by decade's end. This mission highlights China's growing ambitions in space exploration despite exclusion from the International Space Station.