China has finalized the astronaut crews for its upcoming Shenzhou-20 and Shenzhou-21 crewed space missions, scheduled for launch this year. This announcement was made by Yang Yuguang, vice chair of the Space Transportation Committee at the International Astronautical Federation.
“For both missions, whether the primary or backup crews, all members are undergoing rigorous and high-intensity training,” Yang said in an interview with China Media Group. However, he did not disclose the names of the astronauts selected for these missions.
During their six-month stay in orbit, the crews are expected to conduct a wide range of scientific experiments and perform extravehicular activities, continuing the work of previous missions.
This year will also witness the launch of the Tianzhou-9 cargo spacecraft to support the operation of China’s space station. Additionally, Yang revealed that the maiden launch of China’s Qingzhou cargo ship is anticipated. This new cargo ship is designed to carry out urgent and lightweight resupply missions to the space station, offering more flexibility in supporting the crew’s needs.
