• China's Shenzhou-21 mission marks the seventh crewed flight to Tiangong space station.
• The mission includes the first small mammals sent to the Chinese space station for research.
• Commander Zhang Lu leads a crew featuring China's youngest astronaut, Wu Fei.

China launched its Shenzhou-21 mission on Friday, sending three astronauts and four mice to the Tiangong space station, which is also known as "Heavenly Palace." The Long March-2F rocket lifted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in northwest China, marking the seventh crewed flight since the station's completion in 2022. Commander Zhang Lu, age 48 and a veteran of the Shenzhou-15 mission, leads the crew, which also includes Zhang Hongzhang, 39, and Wu Fei, 32, who is recognized as China's youngest astronaut to go to space, according to South China Morning Post, The Jakarta Post, and India Times.

The astronauts will replace the Shenzhou-20 crew, who have been onboard for over six months and are expected to return to Earth shortly. A notable aspect of this mission is the inclusion of four black mice, the first small mammals sent to the Tiangong station, which will undergo experiments focused on reproduction in a low-gravity environment. This research aims to provide insights into the physiological effects of space conditions on mammals, a critical step for future long-term human space exploration, states South China Morning Post and The Jakarta Post.

With its biannual launch schedule, the Shenzhou program continues to showcase significant advancements. It has recently celebrated milestones such as the first astronauts from the 1990s being launched into space, a world-record spacewalk, and plans to send the first foreign astronaut, from Pakistan, to Tiangong. These developments indicate a competitive tension, particularly with the United States, as both nations strive for leadership in space exploration and international collaborations. Following these endeavors comes intensified scrutiny, with the US seeking to return its astronauts to the moon ahead of China's ambitious goals, according to The Jakarta Post and India Times.