China Launches Shenzhou-20 Crewed Mission to Tiangong Space Station.

On April 24, 2025, China successfully launched the Shenzhou-20 crewed mission to the Heavenly Palace, also known as the Tiangong Space Station, aboard the Long March-2F carrier rocket. Launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Base in northwest China, the mission carried three astronauts who will spend six months aboard the station.

      - This marks China's ninth crewed mission to Tiangong and aligns with its goal to establish a permanent lunar base by 2030.

      - The primary objective of the Shenzhou-20 crewed mission is to conduct experiments in various scientific fields, including physics, life sciences, and regenerative biology, using planarians (aquatic flatworms). Additionally, the crew will install space debris protection systems on the Tiangong Space Station, perform spacewalks, conduct equipment maintenance, and replenish supplies for the station.

      - The crew of Shenzhou-20 will also replace the Shenzhou-19 team, who are scheduled to return to Earth on April 29, 2025. This mission is an important step in advancing China’s space capabilities and furthering the scientific research aboard the Tiangong Space Station.

Main Point :-   (i) The crew members of the Shenzhou-20 mission include Commander Chen Dong, a veteran astronaut and former fighter pilot, who holds the record for the longest cumulative stay (200+ days) in space by a Chinese national. This marks his third spaceflight. Joining him is Chen Zhongrui, a 40-year-old former Air Force pilot who is embarking on his first space mission. The team is also joined by Wang Jie, a 35-year-old former space technology engineer, making his debut as an astronaut.

      (ii) The Tiangong Space Station, where the crew will be stationed, is a permanently crewed orbital facility constructed and operated by the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA). The station became fully operational in October 2022 and is designed with a T-shape structure consisting of three core modules: Tianhe (Harmony of Heavens), Wentian (Quest for Heavens), and Mengtian (Dreaming of Heavens).

(iii) With a total mass of around 100 metric tons, Tiangong orbits the Earth at an altitude ranging from 340 to 450 kilometers in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). It serves as a key milestone in China’s space exploration efforts, providing a platform for long-term research and development in space science and technology.
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