Shenzhou-21 Launch: China Sends Its Youngest Astronaut and Mice to Space

China has successfully launched the Shenzhou-21 mission to its Tiangong space station. This important mission carried a crew of three astronauts, including Wu Fei, who is now China’s youngest astronaut ever to travel into orbit (space). It also carried four laboratory mice for scientific experiments.

This launch shows how fast China’s space program is growing. China plans to send astronauts to the Moon by 2030.

Shenzhou-21 Launch: China Sends Its Youngest Astronaut and Mice to Space

Key Mission Details

• Launch Site: The mission lifted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in the Gobi Desert, Northwest China.
• Rocket: It was launched by the Long March-2F rocket.
• Crew: The three-member crew will stay in space for six months.
  • Commander: Zhang Lu
  • Flight Engineer: Wu Fei (age 32, the youngest astronaut)
  • Payload Specialist: Zhang Hongzhang
• Space Station: The spacecraft successfully docked with the Tiangong space station, which was completed in 2022.

Science in Space: Mice and Microgravity

For the first time, China is using lab mice in orbit. The mission includes two male and two female mice.

• Goal of the Study: The experiments will check how microgravity (the very low gravity in space) affects the bodies and reproduction of mammals.
• Why it Matters: This research is crucial for China to prepare for long-duration missions to the Moon and other planets.

The crew will also:

• Perform spacewalks.
• Install anti-debris shields to protect the station.
• Run educational activities to encourage young students to study science.

China’s Big ‘Space Dream’

Under its “space dream” initiative, China is quickly achieving its goals:

• 2019: Landed the Chang’e-4 probe on the far side of the Moon.
• 2021: Sent a rover to Mars.
• Goal: A crewed (human) mission to the Moon by 2030.

The Tiangong space station is a key part of this plan. It acts as a permanent base for research and training astronauts. China has been developing its own spaceflight path since being excluded from the International Space Station (ISS) in 2011.

Question & Answer

Q1. Shenzhou-21 is the name of the mission launched by which country?
(a) Russia
(b) India
(c) China
(d) United States
Answer: China

Explanation: Shenzhou is the name of China’s human spaceflight program, and Shenzhou-21 is the latest mission sent to its Tiangong space station.

Q2. Which space station was the target destination for the Shenzhou-21 mission?
(a) International Space Station (ISS)
(b) Mir Space Station
(c) Tiangong Space Station
(d) Lunar Gateway
Answer: Tiangong Space Station

Explanation: The Shenzhou-21 crew traveled to China’s own permanent orbital base, the Tiangong space station.

Q3. What is the main reason the Shenzhou-21 mission included lab mice?
(a) To test a new space food source
(b) To study the effects of high-speed travel on animals
(c) To examine the effects of microgravity on mammalian physiology and reproduction
(d) To test a new anti-debris shield
Answer: To examine the effects of microgravity on mammalian physiology and reproduction

Explanation: This study is China’s first in-orbit rodent experiment, designed to gather biological data important for long-duration deep-space missions.

Q4. Who is the youngest astronaut to go into orbit for China on the Shenzhou-21 mission?
(a) Zhang Lu
(b) Zhang Hongzhang
(c) Wu Fei
(d) Xi Jinping
Answer: Wu Fei

Explanation: Wu Fei, at age 32, serves as the flight engineer and is the youngest Chinese astronaut to enter orbit.

Q5. Which of the following is a major long-term goal for China’s space program, as supported by the current mission?
(a) Landing a rover on Jupiter by 2040
(b) Sending a crewed mission to the Moon by 2030
(c) Building a new international space station
(d) Launching the world’s largest space telescope
Answer: Sending a crewed mission to the Moon by 2030

Explanation: The Shenzhou-21 mission and the Tiangong station are key steps in preparing for China’s goal of a human lunar landing by the end of the decade.

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