China’s Shenzhou-21 Mission & Tiangong Space Station – UPSC Model Notes

1. Shenzhou-21 Mission Launch Date & Vehicle:

Launched aboard Long March-2F rocket from Jiuquan Launch Centre.

Crew: Includes a new team, featuring China’s youngest astronaut.

Duration: Mission planned for six months, taking over from Shenzhou-20 team.

Scientific Objective: Carried four black mice — first small mammals onboard Tiangong. Studying reproduction in microgravity to support long-term human space habitation.

2. Tiangong (“Heavenly Palace”) Space Station

Nature:China’s permanently crewed space station in Low Earth Orbit (LEO).

Objective: Build a permanent, reliable orbital station. Ensure health and safety of astronauts for long-duration missions. Provide a platform for scientific and technological research.

Size & Capacity: Smaller than ISS: 3 main modules (ISS has 16 modules). Weight: 80–100 tons (~1/5th of ISS mass).

Crew capacity: 3 astronauts for 6 months, 6 during handovers.

Significance & Research Areas:
Functions as a space laboratory.
23 experiment racks for studies in: Space life sciences & biotechnology
Microgravity physics & combustion
Material science in space
Fundamental physics under microgravity