Shenzhou-22 Replacement Crew Spacecraft: Arrival & Docking | China Space Station

Shenzhou-22 Replacement Crew Spacecraft: Arrival & Docking | China Space Station

The Shenzhou-22 crew spacecraft successfully docked with the China Space Station on November 25, merely more than three hours of space flight following the liftoff, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).

The spacecraft, atop the Long March-2F Y22 carrier rocket, blasted off at 12:11 Beijing Time (0411 GMT) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China.

About ten minutes after the launch, the spacecraft separated from the rocket and entered its designated orbit. The CMSA declared the launch mission a complete success.

At 15:50 Beijing time (0750 GMT), the spacecraft successfully docked with the front port of the Tiangong space station's Tianhe core module.

The spacecraft, flying without a crew aboard, carried a cargo of space food, medical supplies, fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as devices for treating the cracked window on the Shenzhou-20 spacecraft.

It will later serve as the return vessel for the three Shenzhou-21 astronauts currently in orbit.

Tuesday's launch followed the postponed return of the Shenzhou-20 crew aboard the Shenzhou-21 spacecraft on Nov. 14. The Shenzhou-20 spacecraft was struck by space debris, delaying its return originally scheduled to take place on Nov 5, according to CMSA.

The Shenzhou-21 crew members are in good condition, and are fulfilling their tasks as planed, the CMSA said, adding that the damaged Shenzhou-20 spacecraft will remain in orbit to continue relevant experiments.

Zhou Jianping, chief designer of China's crewed space program, explained the significance of the launch, which is the first emergency launch mission under the program.

"The success of this mission fully demonstrated the strengths of China's new system for mobilizing resources nationwide, comprehensively interpreted the principle of prioritizing life and safety above anything else in China's crewed space program, comprehensively verified the scientific, reliable and safe nature of the 'one launch, one standby, rolling backup' strategy for China's space station missions, rigorously tested all personnel's rapid response and emergency handling capabilities in real-world scenarios, and vividly exemplified the spirit of the crewed space program—one characterized by exceptional capabilities to overcome hardships, work with a fighting morale, solve technical bottlenecks, and remain dedicated," Zhou said.

Video Credit: CCTV
Duration: 1 minute, 52 seconds
Release Date: Nov 25, 2025

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