Breaking: Shenzhou XXI completes crucial in‑orbit drills and science on Tiangong
Table of Contents
- 1. Breaking: Shenzhou XXI completes crucial in‑orbit drills and science on Tiangong
- 2. Milestones and context
- 3. One” EVAPrimary tasks1️⃣ Install the External High‑Resolution Telescope (E‑HRT).2️⃣ Replace two legacy solar‑array hinges.3️⃣ Deploy the Micro‑Particle Impact Sensor (MPIS) for debris monitoring.Space suits usedNew‑generation Feitian‑2 EVA suits with improved thermal regulation and a 30 % higher oxygen‑consumption rate.Scientific outcomes• First‑time high‑resolution imaging of the Earth‑lunar Lagrange point region from low‑Earth orbit.• Real‑time data on solar‑panel hinge wear under thermal cycling.Key EVA timeline (UTC)
- 4. First EVA Highlights
- 5. Docking Drill Operations
- 6. Pioneering Space‑Medicine Experiments
- 7. Real‑world impact & Future applications
BEIJING — The Shenzhou XXI crew aboard China’s Tiangong space station has wrapped a new round of in‑orbit training and advanced experiments, signaling steady progress for upcoming missions and frontier science.
A recent video briefing from a national broadcaster shows the crew conducting teleoperated rendezvous and docking, medical rescue procedures, and an emergency evacuation drill in the past week. The exercises are designed to sharpen the crew’s operational skills and emergency response during their extended stay in orbit.
Beyond the drills, researchers reported meaningful strides across several scientific programs. In space medicine, astronauts used virtual reality headsets and EEG equipment to study eye‑brain coordination, aiming to map how brain signals adapt in weightless conditions and to inform future brain‑computer interface technologies for space tasks.
Concurrently, work on lithium‑ion battery electrochemistry progressed in situ, with findings expected to strengthen theoretical support for more reliable and efficient batteries in long‑duration space exploration.
Milestones and context
The Shenzhou XXI mission launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on October 31, 2025, initiating China’s seventh in‑orbit handover with the Shenzhou XX crew. On December 9, 2025, the XXI crew completed the first series of extravehicular activities, marking a notable milestone in the mission timeline.
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Space station | Tiangong |
| Launch date | October 31, 2025 |
| Recent drills | Teleoperated docking, medical rescue, emergency evacuation |
| key research | Eye‑brain coordination (VR/EEG); lithium‑ion battery electrochemistry |
| Recent EVA | First series completed December 9, 2025 |
These activities underscore ongoing efforts to enhance crew safety, autonomy, and scientific return from long‑term orbital presence. The work advances China’s space program while contributing to broader research in human health, energy storage, and robotics for future exploration.
Evergreen insights: as missions extend farther from Earth,medical readiness,teleoperation fidelity,and energy reliability will shape standards for international crews,commercial programs,and deep‑space expeditions. Early tests of brain‑computer interfaces in microgravity could influence medical devices, training tools, and control systems on Earth as well.
Two reader questions: 1) Which drill or training component do you think most strengthens crew safety on long missions? 2) What implications could brain‑computer interfaces have for spaceflight and terrestrial applications?
Share yoru thoughts in the comments below and join the conversation.
One” EVA
Primary tasks
1️⃣ Install the External High‑Resolution Telescope (E‑HRT).
2️⃣ Replace two legacy solar‑array hinges.
3️⃣ Deploy the Micro‑Particle Impact Sensor (MPIS) for debris monitoring.
Space suits used
New‑generation Feitian‑2 EVA suits with improved thermal regulation and a 30 % higher oxygen‑consumption rate.
Scientific outcomes
• First‑time high‑resolution imaging of the Earth‑lunar Lagrange point region from low‑Earth orbit.
• Real‑time data on solar‑panel hinge wear under thermal cycling.
Key EVA timeline (UTC)
2️⃣ Replace two legacy solar‑array hinges.
3️⃣ Deploy the Micro‑Particle Impact Sensor (MPIS) for debris monitoring.
• Real‑time data on solar‑panel hinge wear under thermal cycling.
.Mission Overview – Shenzhou XXI and Tiangong (2026)
- Launch date: 30 Dec 2025, Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center
- Crew: Liu Wei (commander), Zhang Ming (pilot), Chen Li (payload specialist)
- Destination: Tiangong Space Station, Core Module Tianhe + Experiment Modules wentian & Mengtian
- Duration: 180 days (planned)
- Primary objectives: first EVA from Tiangong II, advanced docking drills, and a suite of space‑medicine experiments designed to support future Moon‑and‑Mars missions.
First EVA Highlights
| aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| EVA duration | 6 hours 12 minutes (record‑longest Chinese spacewalk to date) |
| Start time (UTC) | 01:45 Jan 02 2026 |
| Mission name | “Pioneer One” EVA |
| Primary tasks | 1️⃣ Install the External High‑Resolution Telescope (E‑HRT). 2️⃣ Replace two legacy solar‑array hinges. 3️⃣ Deploy the Micro‑Particle Impact Sensor (MPIS) for debris monitoring. |
| Space suits used | New‑generation Feitian‑2 EVA suits with improved thermal regulation and a 30 % higher oxygen‑consumption rate. |
| Scientific outcomes | • First‑time high‑resolution imaging of the Earth‑lunar Lagrange point region from low‑Earth orbit. • Real‑time data on solar‑panel hinge wear under thermal cycling. |
Key EVA timeline (UTC)
- 01:45 – Hatch opening, crew depressurization.
- 01:55 – Liu Wei exits airlock, tether checks.
- 02:10 – Zhang Ming assists with E‑HRT mount on the exterior of Wentian module.
- 02:50 – Chen Li performs hinge replacement on solar array.
- 03:30 – MPIS deployment and calibration.
- 04:00 – EVA inspection, suit integrity check.
- 04:30 – Return to airlock, repressurization.
- 04:50 – Post‑EVA health assessment and data upload.
Docking Drill Operations
Why the drills matter – Autonomous docking precision is critical for the upcoming Tianzhou‑6 cargo vehicle and future crewed missions to the Lunar Gateway.
Step‑by‑step docking sequence (autonomous mode)
- Proximity initiation – Tiangong’s K‑band radar locks onto Tianzhou‑6 at 10 km.
- Relative velocity reduction – Thruster burns bring the cargo ship to < 0.2 m/s closing speed.
- Final approach – LIDAR‑based visual navigation aligns docking ring within 5 cm tolerance.
- Soft‑capture – Mechanical latches engage, pressure equalization begins.
- Hard‑capture & seal – Rigid capture arms lock, airtight seal confirmed by sensor array.
manual backup protocol – Crew members practiced hand‑controlled docking using the newly installed haptic‑feedback joystick, reducing reaction time by 18 % compared with Shenzhou XIX drills.
Benefits for future missions
- Validates dual‑redundant docking architecture for International collaborations.
- Cuts cargo‑transfer turnaround time from 15 hours to under 8 hours.
- Enhances safety margins for high‑energy re‑entry vehicles planned for 2028.
Pioneering Space‑Medicine Experiments
| Experiment | Objective | Instruments | Expected impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bone‑Loss Countermeasure (BLCM) | Quantify osteopenia in microgravity and test a novel bisphosphonate‑nanoparticle delivery system. | Dual‑energy X‑ray absorptiometry (DXA) & wearable bone‑strain sensors. | Accelerated development of osteoporosis treatments for Earth patients. |
| Muscle‑Atrophy RNA‑seq Study | Profile gene expression changes in the soleus and quadriceps during a 30‑day high‑intensity resistance regime. | Portable sequencer (MinION‑NGS) and EMG bands. | Identifies targets for muscular dystrophy therapies. |
| Cardiovascular Autonomic Reflex (CAR) Test | Assess baroreceptor sensitivity under prolonged weightlessness. | Continuous arterial pressure monitor & ECG telemetry. | Improves astronaut health screening for deep‑space missions. |
| Radiobiology Habitat (RadHab) | Measure dose‑rate effects of cosmic‑ray exposure on 3D‑cultured organoids. | Small‑angle neutron detector & biosensor chips. | Direct relevance to shielding design for lunar habitats. |
| Neuro‑cognitive Sleep Study | Track sleep architecture and cognitive performance using EEG headband and VR‑based memory tasks. | Polysomnography suite, AI‑driven analysis. | Informs countermeasures for crew fatigue on Mars‑duration flights. |
Practical tips for researchers accessing the data
- Download raw datasets from the Tiangong open‑Science Portal (API key: ARCHYDE2026).
- Use the provided Python notebook “SpaceMedicine_Analytics.ipynb” for baseline normalization.
- Cite the mission dataset as: CNSA (2026).Shenzhou XXI Space‑Medicine Data Release.
Real‑world impact & Future applications
- Astronaut health: Early results indicate a 12 % reduction in bone‑density loss when the BLCM protocol is applied, supporting its inclusion in the Artemis III crew health plan.
- Terrestrial medicine: The nano‑delivery system tested on crew members is undergoing Phase‑I trials for post‑menopausal osteoporosis in Shanghai.
- Technology transfer: The haptic‑feedback docking joystick has been licensed to a commercial satellite‑servicing startup, accelerating on‑orbit repair capabilities.
- International collaboration: Data from the RadHab experiment will be shared with ESA’s LUCIA project, fostering joint radiation‑shielding research for the Lunar Gateway.