Shenzhou-22 Launch Highlights Space Emergency Readiness | China Space Station
The successful launch of China's Shenzhou-22 spacecraft on November 25, 2025, demonstrated the Long March-2F carrier rocket's rapid-response capability for space station emergencies. It took only 16 days for the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) to respond after tiny cracks were found in the viewport window of the Shenzhou-20 crewed spacecraft's return capsule docked at the China Space Station, most probably caused by an external impact from space debris.
The replacement Shenzhou-22 spacecraft was launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, marking the first emergency launch mission in the country's crewed space program.
The country introduced the "one launch, one on standby" arrangement, a rolling backup system for the Long March-2F as early as the launch of the Shenzhou-12 mission, with the backup rocket fully prepared to launch on short notice should the space station require urgent assistance. Tuesday's mission marked the first time this emergency mechanism was put into actual use.
Under this emergency scheme, there are always a standby Long March-2F rocket and a standby Shenzhou spacecraft inside a dedicated facility at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. The Long March-2F Y22 rocket used in the mission was such a backup vehicle, maintained in full readiness for precisely such emergency deployment.
"We ensure that one rocket is always in a ready-to-launch state. All work on this rocket is conducted as if it were performing a formal task. Tasks such as rollout and quality verification are all carried out in accordance with the standards for official tasks. By completing much of the work in advance, we can shorten the preparation window when an actual emergency need rises," said Zeng Yaoxiang, an engineer at the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC).
According to Zeng, the team reduced a normal test-to-launch cycle of more than 30 days to just 16, making the standby rocket ready to launch.
He said the mission was not only a test of the rocket's reliability but also a demanding challenge for the team's coordination and workflow optimization.
"The whole period from tests to launch is 16 days, which is a very short window. It requires full concentration and strict adherence to the plan, and uncompromising quality control," Zeng said.
Although Shenzhou-22 is an uncrewed spacecraft, the rocket retained its full crewed-mission configuration, including the escape tower, ensuring it could undertake a manned emergency rescue at any moment.
Meanwhile, the next rocket in the series, the Long March-2F Y23, is undergoing assembly and test in Beijing. It will be transferred to the launch site upon completion of related work and will be on standby status for emergency response following the Shenzhou-22 mission.
Shenzhou-21 Crew
Zhang Lu (张陆) - Commander & Pilot - 2nd spaceflight
Wu Fei (武飞) Flight Engineer - 1st spaceflight
Zhang Hong Zhang (张洪章) - Payload Specialist - 1st spaceflight
Duration: 1 minute, 27 seconds
Release Date: Nov. 26, 2025
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