Shenzhou 21
| Mission type | Tiangong space station crew transport |
|---|---|
| Operator | China Manned Space Agency |
| Mission duration | 180 days (planned) |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft type | Shenzhou |
| Manufacturer | China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation |
| Crew | |
| Crew size | 3 |
| Members | TBA |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | October 2025 (planned) |
| Rocket | Long March 2F |
| Launch site | Jiuquan, LA-4/SLS |
| Contractor | China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology |
| End of mission | |
| Landing date | 2026 (planned) |
| Landing site | Inner Mongolia, China |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric orbit |
| Regime | Low Earth orbit |
| Inclination | 41.5° |
| Docking with Tiangong space station | |
| Docking port | Tianhe Nadir |
| Docking date | October 2025 (planned) |
| Undocking date | 2026 (planned) |
| Time docked | 180 days (planned) |
Shenzhou 21 (Chinese: 神舟二十一号; pinyin: Shénzhōu èrshíyī-hào; lit. 'Divine Boat Number 21') is a planned Chinese spaceflight to the Tiangong space station, expected to launch in October 2025.[1] It will carry three taikonauts on board a Shenzhou spacecraft. The mission will be the 16th crewed Chinese spaceflight and the 21st flight overall of the Shenzhou program.
Background
Shenzhou 21 is expected to launch in October 2025, prior to the end of the previous mission, Shenzhou 20. It will be the 10th flight to the Tiangong space station, and is expected to last approximately 6 months. It will depart following the arrival of the Shenzhou 22 crew in 2026.
Mission
The mission will launch from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on board a Long March 2F rocket. The Shenzhou spacecraft will dock with the forward docking port on the Tianhe core module of the station, where the crew will enter and take over operations from the departing crew of Shenzhou 20.
Crew
| Position | Crew member | |
|---|---|---|
| Commander | TBA, CMSA | |
| Operator | TBA, CMSA | |
| Science Operator | TBA, CMSA | |
The crew for the Shenzhou 21 mission was selected in February 2025,[2] but as of April 2025 has not been publicly announced.