Shenzhou-21 Crew Celebrates May Day in Space, Return Planned for May
Summary: On May 1, 2026, the three crew members of China's Shenzhou-21 mission — Zhang Lu, Wu Fei, and Zhang Hongzhang — celebrated May Day in space. According to mission plans, the crew will return to Earth in May, while the Shenzhou-23 spacecraft and Long March rocket combination is being prepared for launch at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. During this mission, Zhang Lu accumulated a total of 7 EVAs with over 47 hours and 47 minutes of extravehicular time, setting a new record for Chinese astronauts.
On-Orbit Work and Achievements
The Shenzhou-21 crew completed three extravehicular activities (EVAs) totaling approximately 20 hours and 47 minutes during their time on the space station. During these spacewalks, the astronauts completed critical tasks including installation of space station debris protection devices, installation and retrieval of extravehicular payloads and platform equipment. These EVAs not only broke the record for Chinese astronaut EVA duration but also provided important support for the safe operation of the space station.
The crew also completed extensive scientific experiments, including replacement of experiment module cartridge covers in the Combustion Science Experiment Cabinet, sample cavity cleaning in the Containerless Processing Cabinet, electrode maintenance of the axial mechanism, cabin air cleanliness testing, acoustic environment monitoring, and microgravity physics experiments such as domestic rodent scientific experiments.
Shenzhou-23: China's First Extended Duration Mission
According to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA), the Shenzhou-23 spacecraft and Long March rocket combination has completed testing at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center and is in standby status. This mission will mark China's first attempt at an extended duration stay: one astronaut will remain on orbit for approximately one year, exploring long-term space residency technology and accumulating key data for future crewed lunar missions.
According to plans, the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center has completed rocket ground testing and commissioning equipment maintenance and inspection, spacecraft fueling drills, and emergency search and rescue drills for the Shenzhou-23 launch standby phase. Shenzhou-23 will replace the Shenzhou-21 crew to continue the application and development phase of the space station.
Five Years of Tianhe Core Module and Space Station Upgrade
On April 29, 2026, the Tianhe Core Module celebrated its fifth year of stable operation in orbit, and the China Space Station is about to begin its "second expansion." According to plans, a new expansion module will be added to the forward docking port of the core module, forming a "cross-shaped" configuration, with the overall appearance including solar panels forming the Chinese character "中" (zhōng, meaning "center" or "China"). The first upgraded module is expected to launch in 2027, significantly enhancing the space station's scientific research capacity.
Source: Tianjiangshuo / cislunarspace.cn