Shenzhou-20 Crew Docks with Tiangong as China Advances Toward Lunar Goals
China’s space program marked another major milestone on April 24, with the successful docking of the Shenzhou-20 crewed spacecraft to the Tiangong space station. The spacecraft delivered three astronauts—Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui, and Wang Jie—just hours after liftoff from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.
According to the China Manned Space Engineering Office (CMSEO), Shenzhou-20 docked at the radial port of Tiangong’s Tianhe core module at approximately 11:49 a.m. Eastern (15:49 UTC). The mission marks the sixth crew rotation to Tiangong since the space station was completed in 2022.
Chen Dong, who previously commanded the Shenzhou-14 mission, leads the current crew. Chen Zhongrui, a former air force pilot, and Wang Jie, an aerospace engineer from China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), are both making their first spaceflight.
The new team will assume station control from the Shenzhou-19 crew in the coming days. That crew—Cai Xuzhe, Song Lingdong, and Wang Haoze—is scheduled to return to Earth on April 29, landing at the Dongfeng site.
Science and Station Expansion
Over their six-month stay, the Shenzhou-20 astronauts will carry out extravehicular activities, conduct scientific research, participate in public outreach, and receive the Tianzhou-9 cargo spacecraft.
One focus of the mission includes life sciences experiments, using zebrafish, planarians (regenerative flatworms), and Streptomyces bacteria. These studies aim to understand the effects of microgravity on protein regulation, cardiovascular health, tissue regeneration, and biotech enzyme production.
CMSEO also reiterated plans to expand Tiangong by adding a multi-functional module with six docking ports, paving the way for international collaborations, space tourism, and commercial missions without disrupting existing operations.
The launch also coincided with the 55th anniversary of Dongfanghong-1, China’s first satellite, and marked the country’s 21st orbital launch of 2025.
Progress Toward the Moon
At a press conference on April 23, CMSEO deputy director Lin Xiqiang shared updates on China’s push for a crewed lunar landing by 2030. Key systems in development include the Long March 10 rocket, Mengzhou crewed spacecraft, Lanyue lunar lander, Wangyu lunar suit, and Tansuo lunar rover.
Prototypes are undergoing testing, including high-altitude drops, thermal assessments, and static fire trials. Upcoming tests at Jiuquan and Wenchang will evaluate spacecraft escape systems and lunar landing procedures under extreme conditions.
A lunar remote sensing satellite project has also been approved, with CAST (China Academy of Space Technology) selected as the lead agency.
International Partnerships
China is actively pursuing international cooperation in low Earth orbit. Lin revealed that Pakistan may soon send an astronaut to Tiangong as a payload expert. Negotiations are also ongoing with other countries for future astronaut participation in Chinese space missions.
