Shenzhou-21 Astronauts Land After 210 Days, Setting China Crew Spaceflight Record
Updated
Updated · South China Morning Post · May 29
Shenzhou-21 Astronauts Land After 210 Days, Setting China Crew Spaceflight Record
5 articles · Updated · South China Morning Post · May 29
Three Chinese astronauts returned to Earth at 8:11 p.m. Friday, touching down at the Dongfeng landing site in Inner Mongolia after a 210-day stay aboard the Tiangong space station.
Medical teams said the crew was in good physical condition after completing the longest on-orbit mission ever flown by a Chinese crew.
The China Manned Space Agency said the astronauts experienced several milestones during the mission, including China's first emergency spacecraft launch and a delayed crew return.
Dongfeng, once a top-secret nuclear missile test site, has become a key hub for China's crewed space missions and commercial aerospace launches.
What secrets will China's year-long space mission unlock for its ambitious 2030 Moon landing goal?
As China's Tiangong station expands its partnerships, is a new era of space collaboration or competition emerging?
With China's rapid success, can the US-led Artemis program maintain its lead in the race back to the Moon?
Shenzhou-21’s 204-Day Mission: China’s Longest Human Spaceflight, Emergency Response, and Scientific Breakthroughs
Overview
On May 29, 2026, the Shenzhou-21 mission ended with astronauts Zhang Lu, Wu Fei, and Zhang Hongzhang safely landing at Dongfeng in China. Their return, using the Shenzhou-22 capsule, marked a complete success for the mission. All three astronauts were in good health after spending a record 204 days in orbit, thanks to rigorous health management protocols that included regular medical scans and continuous monitoring. This achievement highlights China's growing expertise in long-duration spaceflight and its commitment to astronaut safety, setting a new milestone for the country's human space exploration efforts.