Overview
- The China Manned Space Engineering Office announced Friday via state TV that the three-person Shenzhou-21 crew will remain in orbit for roughly one month beyond the six-month plan.
- The extension is meant to verify technology for long-duration living on the Tiangong station and to finish more science and engineering work.
- Zhang Lu and Wu Fei conducted a third spacewalk on Thursday UTC to install shielding against micrometeoroids and debris and to inspect exterior gear, with Zhang Hongzhang supporting from inside.
- A cracked window on the earlier Shenzhou-20 capsule in November led China to send an uncrewed Shenzhou-22 as a standby return craft, and state media say near-term crewed launch dates have been adjusted, with reports pointing to Shenzhou-23 in May.
- The current crew—commander Zhang Lu, Zhang Hongzhang and Wu Fei—launched October 31 on a Long March-2F from Jiuquan and are expected to ride the docked Shenzhou-22 spacecraft home after the extended stay.