Beijing: China successfully launched the Shenzhou-21 spacecraft carrying three astronauts and four mice to the Tiangong space station on Friday at 11:44 pm local time from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China. The mission strengthens China’s growing presence in space and continues its long-term plan to establish technological and scientific dominance beyond Earth.

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•  Shenzhou-21 launches with 3 astronauts, 4 mice to Tiangong space station
•  Liftoff from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, northwest China, at 11:44 pm local time
•  Crew includes Zhang Lu (commander), Wu Fei (engineer), and Zhang Hongzhang (payload specialist)
•  Wu Fei, 32, becomes China’s youngest astronaut in space
•  Crew to stay for about 6 months conducting experiments in biotechnology, materials science, and medicine
•  Mission to include in-orbit crew rotation with Shenzhou-20 team and cargo transfer with Tianzhou-10
•  Astronauts plan to perform tai-chi, gardening, and poetry activities aboard station
•  Four mice on board to study effects of weightlessness and confinement on small mammals
•  Experiment aims to develop space breeding and adaptation technologies
•  Mission highlights China’s steady progress toward landing astronauts on the Moon by 2030
•  Tiangong station, built entirely by China, symbolizes self-reliance after exclusion from ISS