Sculpture Garden of Gas and Dust: Core of The Lagoon Nebula | STScI

Sculpture Garden of Gas and Dust: Core of The Lagoon Nebula | STScI

This video zooms into the core of a rich star-birth region called the Lagoon Nebula, located in the constellation Sagittarius in the direction of our Milky Way galaxy’s central bulge. The sequence then dissolves to a series of imagined three-dimensional flights past striking structures of this gaseous landscape. Viewers examine dark, dusty clouds silhouetted against a colorful background of luminous gas that has been heated by a massive star. Pillars of dense gas and bow shocks around newborn stars are shaped by the strong winds from the brightest stars. The intense high-energy emission from these same stars creates the glowing ridges of gas in ionization fronts. These features are some of the highlights of this vibrant region where new stars and planets are born.

Credit: NASA, European Space Agency, and G. Bacon, D. Player, J. DePasquale, F. Summers, and Z. Levay/Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI)
Acknowledgement: A. Fujii, Digitized Sky Survey, European Southern Observatory (ESO)/VPHAS, and R. Crisp
Duration: 2 minutes, 15 seconds
Release Date: April 19, 2018

#NASA #ESA #ESO #Astronomy #Space #Hubble #Nebula #LagoonNebula #NGC6523 #Sagittarius #Constellations #Cosmos #Universe #HubbleSpaceTelescope #HST #GSFC #STScI #UnitedStates #Europe #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Close-up of Comet C/2025 A6 (Lemmon): View from British Columbia, Canada

Close-up of Comet C/2025 A6 (Lemmon): View from British Columbia, Canada

Comet C/2025 A6 (Lemmon) is becoming much more active as it nears our Sun. As comets approach the Sun, they heat up, causing their icy components to sublimate. This leads to the formation of a glowing coma and tails that can stretch for millions of kilometers.

Comet Lemmon is brightening and moving into morning northern skies. Besides Comet SWAN25B and Comet ATLAS, Comet C/2025 A6 (Lemmon) is now the third comet currently visible with binoculars and on long camera exposures. Comet Lemmon was discovered early this year and is still headed into the inner Solar System. The comet will round the Sun on November 8, 2025. It passed nearest to the Earth—about half of the Earth-Sun distance—on October 21.

British Columbia is the westernmost province of Canada. Situated in the Pacific Northwest between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains, British Columbia borders the province of Alberta to the east; the territories of Yukon and Northwest Territories to the north; the US states of Washington, Idaho and Montana to the south, and Alaska to the northwest.

Image Credit: Debra Ceravolo

Capture Location: Southern British Columbia

Image Details: 16 inch Boller & Chivens telescope f/18, 7400mm focal length with a Canon R6 camera attached. 10 X 30 seconds exposures stacked. 

Debra's Website: https://www.astrobin.com/users/debraceravolo/
Image Date: Oct. 29, 2025

#NASA #Astronomy #Space #Science #Comets #CometC2025A6Lemmon #Coma #CometaryTails #SolarSystem #MilkyWayGalaxy #Cosmos #Universe #Astrophotography #DebraCeravolo #Astrophotographers #SouthernBC #BritishColumbia #Canada #STEM #Education

Japan's HTV X-1 Cargo Spacecraft Unloading Underway | International Space Station

Japan's HTV X-1 Cargo Spacecraft: Unloading Underway | International Space Station

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s (JAXA) inaugural HII Transfer Vehicle-X (HTV X-1) successfully rendezvoused with the International Space Station (ISS) on Oct. 29, 2025, for a Canadian robot arm capture and berthing to the Earth-facing port on the U.S. segment Harmony module.

The HTV X-1 was launched from JAXA’s Tanegashima Space Center aboard a Mitsubishi Heavy Industries’ H3 Launch Vehicle on Oct. 25, 2025, at 8 p.m. EDT, or Oct. 26 at 9 a.m. local time. It delivered a 4.4-ton cargo of food, crew supplies and scientific research.

With a successful capture by the 58-ft. robot arm commanded by ISS Expedition 73 astronauts Kimiya Yui of JAXA and NASA astronaut Zena Cardman at 11:58 a.m. EDT, NASA Mission Control commanded the berthing. The HTV X-1 is to remain berthed to the ISS for about three months.

“This is a significant event for the Japanese space program,” Yui radioed the JAXA and NASA mission-control teams.

Follow Expedition 73:
https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/

Expedition 73 Crew

Station Commander: Sergey Ryzhikov (Roscosmos)

JAXA Flight Engineer (Japan): Kimiya Yui

Roscosmos (Russia) Flight Engineers: Alexey Zubritskiy, Oleg Platonov

NASA Flight Engineers: Jonny Kim, Zena Cardman, Mike Fincke

An international partnership of space agencies provides and operates the elements of the International Space Station (ISS). The principals are the space agencies of the United States, Russia, Europe, Japan, and Canada.

Image Credit: JAXA/K. Yui
Release Date: Oct. 31, 2025

#NASA #Space #Astronomy #Science #Earth #ISS #HTVX1 #CargoSpacecraft #Astronauts #KimiyaYui #油井亀美也 #Japan #日本 #JAXA #宇宙航空研究開発機構 #UnitedStates #Cosmonauts #Russia #Roscosmos #HumanSpaceflight #SpaceLaboratory #InternationalCooperation #Expedition73 #STEM #Education

Japan's HTV X-1 Cargo Spacecraft after Docking | International Space Station

Japan's HTV X-1 Cargo Spacecraft after Docking | International Space Station

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s (JAXA) inaugural HII Transfer Vehicle-X (HTV X-1) successfully rendezvoused with the International Space Station (ISS) on Oct. 29, 2025, for a Canadian robot arm capture and berthing to the Earth-facing port on the U.S. segment Harmony module.

The HTV X-1 was launched from JAXA’s Tanegashima Space Center aboard a Mitsubishi Heavy Industries’ H3 Launch Vehicle on Oct. 25, 2025, at 8 p.m. EDT, or Oct. 26 at 9 a.m. local time. It delivered a 4.4-ton cargo of food, crew supplies and scientific research.

With a successful capture by the 58-ft. robot arm commanded by ISS Expedition 73 astronauts Kimiya Yui of JAXA and NASA astronaut Zena Cardman at 11:58 a.m. EDT, NASA Mission Control commanded the berthing. The HTV X-1 is to remain berthed to the ISS for about three months.

“This is a significant event for the Japanese space program,” Yui radioed the JAXA and NASA mission-control teams.

Follow Expedition 73:
https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/

Expedition 73 Crew

Station Commander: Sergey Ryzhikov (Roscosmos)

JAXA Flight Engineer (Japan): Kimiya Yui

Roscosmos (Russia) Flight Engineers: Alexey Zubritskiy, Oleg Platonov

NASA Flight Engineers: Jonny Kim, Zena Cardman, Mike Fincke

An international partnership of space agencies provides and operates the elements of the International Space Station (ISS). The principals are the space agencies of the United States, Russia, Europe, Japan, and Canada.

Video Credit: JAXA/K. Yui
Duration: 31 seconds
Release Date: Oct. 30, 2025

#NASA #Space #Astronomy #Science #Earth #ISS #HTVX1 #CargoSpacecraft #Astronauts #KimiyaYui #油井亀美也 #Japan #日本 #JAXA #宇宙航空研究開発機構 #UnitedStates #Cosmonauts #Russia #Roscosmos #HumanSpaceflight #SpaceLaboratory #InternationalCooperation #Expedition73 #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Comet C/2025 A6 (Lemmon): View from Czech Republic

Comet C/2025 A6 (Lemmon): View from Czech Republic

Comet Lemmon is brightening and moving into morning northern skies. Besides Comet SWAN25B and Comet ATLAS, Comet C/2025 A6 (Lemmon) is now the third comet currently visible with binoculars and on long camera exposures. Comet Lemmon was discovered early this year and is still headed into the inner Solar System. The comet will round the Sun on November 8, 2025. It passed nearest to the Earth—about half of the Earth-Sun distance—on October 21.

The Czech Republic, also known as Czechia and historically known as Bohemia, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Austria to the south, Germany to the west, Poland to the northeast, and Slovakia to the southeast.

Image Credit: Dalibor Hanzl

Capture Location: Pavlovice, Czech Republic

Image Details: 17.1 UT 5x30sRGB+16x30sL, 8" ASA f/2.8 reflector, G2 8300 CCD
Image Date: Oct. 30, 2025 

#NASA #Astronomy #Space #Science #Comets #CometC2025A6Lemmon #Coma #CometaryTails #SolarSystem #MilkyWayGalaxy #Cosmos #Universe #Astrophotography #DaliborHanzl #Astrophotographers #Pavlovice #Czech Republic #CentralEurope #Europe #STEM #Education

Shenzhou-21 Astronauts Welcomed by Shenzhou-20 Crew | China Space Station

Shenzhou-21 Astronauts Welcomed by Shenzhou-20 Crew | China Space Station

The three astronauts aboard China's Shenzhou-21 spacecraft entered the country's Tiangong Space Station and met with Shenzhou-20 crew early Saturday morning, November 1, 2025, at 4:58 am Beijing Time (BJT), starting a new round of in-orbit crew handover. 

China’s Shenzhou-21 crewed spacecraft successfully docked with the Tiangong Space Station at 3:22 am BJT on Nov. 1. The entire process from launch to docking took about 3.5 hours, setting a new record for the fastest docking achieved between a Shenzhou spacecraft and China’s space station.

The Shenzhou-21 astronauts will complete an in-orbit rotation with the outgoing Shenzhou-20 crew and stay on board the space station for around six months.

They are set to undertake a series of key scientific experiments during their mission that will also see them witness the arrival of the Tianzhou-10 cargo craft and later welcome the Shenzhou-22 crewed spacecraft to take over duties onboard the space station.

Shenzhou-21 is the 37th flight mission of China's human spaceflight program and the sixth crewed mission during the application and development stage of the Tiangong Space Station.

Shenzhou-21 Crew
Zhang Lu (张陆) - Commander & Pilot - Second spaceflight
Wu Fei (武飞) Flight Engineer - First spaceflight
Zhang Hong Zhang (张洪章) - Payload Specialist - First spaceflight

Shenzhou-20 Crew

Chen Dong (陈冬) - Commander - Third spaceflight

Chen Zhong Rui (陈中瑞) - Operator - First spaceflight

Wang Jie (王杰) - Flight Engineer - First spaceflight

Video Credit: GLOBALink
Duration: 45 seconds
Release Date: Nov. 1, 2025 

#NASA #Space #Science #China #中国 #Earth #Docking #Shenzhou21Mission #神舟二十一号 #Shenzhou21 #Taikonauts #Astronauts #ZhangLu #WuFei #ZhangHongzhang #Shenzhou20 ##神舟二十号 #ChinaSpaceStation #中国空间站 #TiangongSpaceStation #SpaceLaboratory #CMSA #中国载人航天工程办公室 #HumanSpaceflight #STEM #Education #HD #Video

The RCW 94/95 "Cosmic Bat" Nebulae in Vela: Wide-field View | ESO

The RCW 94/95 "Cosmic Bat" Nebulae in Vela: Wide-field View | ESO

A wide view of a region of the night sky full of stars covered by a reddish glow. At the center there is a small group of clouds that resemble a flying bat spanning its wings.

This image from the Digitized Sky Survey (DSS) shows the region of the sky around the RCW 94 and RCW 95 nebulae, seen here at the center of the image. The nebulae are part of a larger complex of clouds resembling a bat, with RCW 94 representing the right wing and RCW 95 the body, respectively.

Distance to Earth: ~2300 light years

The Digitized Sky Survey (DSS) is a ground-based imaging survey of the entire sky in several colors of light produced by the Space Telescope Science Institute through its Guide Star Survey group.

Credit: European Southern Observatory (ESO)/Digitized Sky Survey 2
Release Date: Oct. 31, 2025

#NASA #ESO #Astronomy #Space #Science #Nebulae #RCW94 #RCW95 #StellarNursery #HIIRegion #EmissionNebulae #Vela #Constellations #MilkyWayGalaxy #Cosmos #Universe #DSS2 #STScI #UnitedStates #Chile #SouthAmerica #Europe #STEM #Education

Journey to Bat-shaped Nebulae RCW 94/95 in Vela | Happy Halloween!

Journey to Bat-shaped Nebulae RCW 94/95 in Vela | Happy Halloween!

This video zooms into a nebula shaped like a spooky bat. It is a sequence of images taken with different telescopes, at distinct times and a range of wavelengths. The journey begins with a wide view of the night sky in visible light. The final image of the nebula combines data taken in visible and infrared light, with two telescopes at the European Southern Observatory's Paranal Observatory: the VLT Survey Telescope (VST) and the Visible and Infrared Survey Telescope for Astronomy (VISTA).

This image shows a cloud of gas and dust, shaped like a cosmic bat. The image was obtained mostly in visible light with the VLT Survey Telescope (VST), hosted at the European Southern Observatory's Paranal Observatory in Chile. The intense red glow comes from hydrogen atoms ionized by the intense radiation of young stars within the cloud. The image also includes additional infrared data captured by the European Southern Observatory's Visible and Infrared Survey Telescope for Astronomy (VISTA), also at Paranal.

The most prominent clouds here are RCW 94, representing the right wing of the bat, and RCW 95, forming the body, while the other parts of the bat have no official designation.

Credit: ESO/L. Calçada/N. Risinger/VMC Survey/Digitized Sky Survey 2/VPHAS+ team/VVV team

Duration: 55 seconds

Release Date: Oct. 31, 2025

#NASA #ESO #Astronomy #Space #Science #Nebulae #RCW94 #RCW95 #StellarNursery #HIIRegion #EmissionNebulae #Vela #Constellations #MilkyWayGalaxy #Cosmos #Universe #VST #ParanalObservatory #Chile #SouthAmerica #Europe #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Fly over a spooky "cosmic bat": Nebulae RCW 94/95 in Vela | Happy Halloween!

Fly over a spooky "cosmic bat": Nebulae RCW 94/95 in Vela | Happy Halloween!

A telescopic view of a cosmic cloud against a dark starry sky. The cloud resembles a flying bat, spanning its wings. The cloud is mostly red with areas partially blocked by dark dust clumps.

This image shows a cloud of gas and dust, shaped like a cosmic bat. The image was obtained mostly in visible light with the VLT Survey Telescope (VST), hosted at the European Southern Observatory's Paranal Observatory in Chile. The intense red glow comes from hydrogen atoms ionized by the intense radiation of young stars within the cloud. The image also includes additional infrared data captured by the European Southern Observatory's Visible and Infrared Survey Telescope for Astronomy (VISTA), also at Paranal.

The most prominent clouds here are RCW 94, representing the right wing of the bat, and RCW 95, forming the body, while the other parts of the bat have no official designation.

Credit: European Southern Observatory (ESO)/VPHAS+ team/VVV team

Duration: 1 minute

Release Date: Oct. 31, 2025

#NASA #ESO #Astronomy #Space #Science #Nebulae #RCW94 #RCW95 #StellarNursery #HIIRegion #EmissionNebulae #Vela #Constellations #MilkyWayGalaxy #Cosmos #Universe #VST #ParanalObservatory #Chile #SouthAmerica #Europe #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Cosmic Bat Nebulae? RCW 94/95 in Vela | Happy Halloween! | ESO

Cosmic Bat Nebulae? RCW 94/95 in Vela | Happy Halloween! | ESO

A telescopic view of a cosmic cloud against a dark starry sky. The cloud resembles a flying bat, spanning its wings. The cloud is mostly red with areas partially blocked by dark dust clumps.

This image shows a cloud of gas and dust, shaped like a cosmic bat. The image was obtained mostly in visible light with the VLT Survey Telescope (VST), hosted at the European Southern Observatory's Paranal Observatory in Chile. The intense red glow comes from hydrogen atoms ionized by the intense radiation of young stars within the cloud. The image also includes additional infrared data captured by the European Southern Observatory's Visible and Infrared Survey Telescope for Astronomy (VISTA), also at Paranal.

The most prominent clouds here are RCW 94, representing the right wing of the bat, and RCW 95, forming the body, while the other parts of the bat have no official designation.

Credit: European Southern Observatory (ESO)/VPHAS+ team/VVV team

Release Date: Oct. 31, 2025

#NASA #ESO #Astronomy #Space #Science #Nebulae #RCW94 #RCW95 #StellarNursery #HIIRegion #EmissionNebulae #Vela #Constellations #MilkyWayGalaxy #Cosmos #Universe #VST #ParanalObservatory #Chile #SouthAmerica #Europe #STEM #Education

Shenzhou-21 Crew Spacecraft Docks 3.5 Hours after Launch | China Space Station

Shenzhou-21 Crew Spacecraft Docks 3.5 Hours after Launch | China Space Station

🚀The Shenzhou-21 crew spacecraft successfully docked with the China Space Station early Saturday morning, Beijing Time, only 3.5 hours after launch. The Shenzhou-21 crew spacecraft, powered by their Long March 2F Y21 rocket, lifted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center (JSLC) in northwest China on Friday, October 31, 2025, at 23:44 Friday (Beijing Time), carrying three astronauts.

China's Shenzhou-21 spaceflight crew consists of three types of astronauts, namely a spacecraft pilot, flight engineer, and payload specialist.

The three crew members, including mission commander Zhang Lu and debutants Wu Fei and Zhang Hongzhang, have all expressed confidence in completing their mission aboard the China Space Station.

The trio will complete an in-orbit rotation with the outgoing Shenzhou-20 crew and stay on board the space station for around six months.

They are set to undertake a series of key scientific experiments during their mission, which will also see them witness the arrival of the Tianzhou-10 cargo craft and later welcome the Shenzhou-22 crewed spacecraft to take over duties onboard the space station.

Shenzhou-21 is the 37th flight mission of China's human spaceflight program and the sixth crewed mission during the application and development stage of the Tiangong Space Station.

Shenzhou-21 Crew
Commander & Pilot Zhang Lu (张陆)
Flight Engineer Wu Fei (武飞) 
Payload Specialist Zhang Hong Zhang (张洪章)

Image Credit: Xinhua

Duration: 45 seconds
Date: Oct. 31, 2025

#NASA #Space #Science #China #中国 #Earth #Docking #MicrogravityExperiments #Shenzhou21Mission #神舟二十一号 #Shenzhou21Crew #Taikonauts #Astronauts #ZhangLu #WuFei #ZhangHongzhang #ChinaSpaceStation #中国空间站 #TiangongSpaceStation #SpaceLaboratory #CMSA #中国载人航天工程办公室 #HumanSpaceflight #JSLC #STEM #Education #HD #Video

NASA's X-59 Quiet Supersonic Jet Takes Flight over California

NASA's X-59 Quiet Supersonic Jet Takes Flight over California

"On Oct. 28, 2025, X-59 flew for the very first time. From takeoff at our Skunk Works' Palmdale facility to landing at NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center, everything performed exactly as planned. The X-59 moved with the kind of confidence that comes from years of innovation, teamwork and cutting-edge solutions." 

"This flight is not just a milestone—it is momentum. We are proving that the future of flight can be faster and quieter than ever before. And we are proud to be leading the charge." 

Learn about Lockheed's contributions to NASA's X-59: https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/products/x-59-quiet-supersonic.html 

The X-59 aircraft builds on decades of supersonic flight research and is the centerpiece of NASA’s Quesst mission. The vast amount of data collected over the years has given designers the tools they needed to craft the shape of the X-59. The goal is to enable the aircraft to fly at supersonic speeds and reduce a loud sonic boom to a quieter “sonic thump.” Follow the X-59 team as they take on the exciting journey of building the X-59 and working toward quiet supersonic flight.

Data gathered during X-59 research flights will be shared with the U.S. and international regulators to inform the establishment of new, data-driven acceptable noise thresholds related to supersonic commercial flight over land.

The X-59’s engine, a modified F414-GE-100, packs 22,000 pounds of thrust. This will enable the X-59 to achieve the desired cruising speed of Mach 1.4 (925 miles per hour) at an altitude of approximately 55,000 feet. It sits in a nontraditional spot–atop the aircraft—to aid in making the X-59 quieter.

The X-59's goal is to help change existing national and international aviation rules that ban commercial supersonic flight over land.

Learn more about NASA's X-59:
https://www.nasa.gov/mission/quesst/
https://www.nasa.gov/flightlog

X-59 Free Maker Bundle (STEM Education):
https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/x-59-maker-bundle-v8.pdf

Video Credit: Lockheed Martin/AP
Duration: 1 minute, 21 seconds
Release Date: Oct. 29, 2025

#NASA #Aerospace #SupersonicFlight #SupersonicAircraft #X59 #Sonicboom #QuietAviation #Aviation #QuesstMission #CommercialAviation #Science #Physics #Engineering #AerospaceResearch #AeronauticalResearch #FlightTests #LockheedMartin #SkunkWorks #NASAArmstrong #AFRC #Palmdale #California #UnitedStates #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Shenzhou-21 Crew Farewell Ceremony & Send-off | China Space Station

Shenzhou-21 Crew Farewell Ceremony & Send-off | China Space Station

And they are off! 🚀The Shenzhou-21 crew spacecraft, powered by their Long March 2F Y21 rocket, was successfully launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center (JSLC) in northwest China on Friday, October 31, 2025, at 23:44 Friday (Beijing Time), carrying three astronauts. It will be a fast journey. The crew is expected to dock with the China Space Station in just 3.5 hours.

China's Shenzhou-21 spaceflight crew consists of three types of astronauts, namely a spacecraft pilot, flight engineer, and payload specialist.

The three crew members, including mission commander Zhang Lu and debutants Wu Fei and Zhang Hongzhang, have all expressed confidence in completing their mission aboard the China Space Station.

The trio will complete an in-orbit rotation with the outgoing Shenzhou-20 crew and stay on board the space station for around six months.

They are set to undertake a series of key scientific experiments during their mission, which will also see them witness the arrival of the Tianzhou-10 cargo craft and later welcome the Shenzhou-22 crewed spacecraft to take over duties onboard the space station.

Shenzhou-21 is the 37th flight mission of China's human spaceflight program and the sixth crewed mission during the application and development stage of the Tiangong Space Station.

Shenzhou-21 Crew
Commander & Pilot Zhang Lu (张陆)
Flight Engineer Wu Fei (武飞) 
Payload Specialist Zhang Hong Zhang (张洪章)

Image Credit: CGTN

Duration: 7 minutes, 42 seconds
Date: Oct. 31, 2025

#NASA #Space #Science #China #中国 #Earth #Mice #MicrogravityExperiments #Shenzhou21Mission #神舟二十一号 #Shenzhou21Crew #Taikonauts #Astronauts #ZhangLu #WuFei #ZhangHongzhang #ChinaSpaceStation #中国空间站 #TiangongSpaceStation #SpaceLaboratory #CMSA #中国载人航天工程办公室 #HumanSpaceflight #JSLC #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Shenzhou-21 Crew Launch on Long March 2F Y21 Rocket | China Space Station

Shenzhou-21 Crew Launch on Long March 2F Y21 Rocket | China Space Station

And they are off! 🚀The Shenzhou-21 crew spacecraft, powered by their Long March 2F Y21 rocket, was successfully launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center (JSLC) in northwest China on Friday, October 31, 2025, at 23:44 Friday (Beijing Time), carrying three astronauts. It will be a fast journey. The crew is expected to dock with the China Space Station in just 3.5 hours.

China's Shenzhou-21 spaceflight crew consists of three types of astronauts, namely a spacecraft pilot, flight engineer, and payload specialist.

The three crew members, including mission commander Zhang Lu and debutants Wu Fei and Zhang Hongzhang, have all expressed confidence in completing their mission aboard the China Space Station.

The trio will complete an in-orbit rotation with the outgoing Shenzhou-20 crew and stay on board the space station for around six months.

They are set to undertake a series of key scientific experiments during their mission, which will also see them witness the arrival of the Tianzhou-10 cargo craft and later welcome the Shenzhou-22 crewed spacecraft to take over duties onboard the space station.

Shenzhou-21 is the 37th flight mission of China's human spaceflight program and the sixth crewed mission during the application and development stage of the Tiangong Space Station.

Shenzhou-21 Crew
Commander & Pilot Zhang Lu (张陆)
Flight Engineer Wu Fei (武飞) 
Payload Specialist Zhang Hong Zhang (张洪章)

Image Credit: CNSA/CMSA
Release Dates: Oct. 30-31, 2025

#NASA #Space #Science #China #中国 #Earth #Mice #MicrogravityExperiments #Shenzhou21Mission #神舟二十一号 #Shenzhou21Crew #Taikonauts #Astronauts #ZhangLu #WuFei #ZhangHongzhang #ChinaSpaceStation #中国空间站 #TiangongSpaceStation #SpaceLaboratory #CMSA #中国载人航天工程办公室 #HumanSpaceflight #JSLC #STEM #Education

Shenzhou-21 Crew Liftoff on Long March 2F Y21 Rocket | China Space Station

Shenzhou-21 Crew Liftoff on Long March 2F Y21 Rocket | China Space Station

And they are off! 🚀The Shenzhou-21 spacecraft, powered by their Long March 2F Y21 rocket, was successfully launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center (JSLC) in northwest China on Friday, October 31, 2025, at 23:44 Friday (Beijing Time), carrying its three-astronaut crew. It will be a fast journey. They are expected to dock with the China Space Station in just 3.5 hours.

China's Shenzhou-21 spaceflight crew consists of three types of astronauts, namely a spacecraft pilot, flight engineer, and payload specialist.

The three crew members, including mission commander Zhang Lu and debutants Wu Fei and Zhang Hongzhang, have all expressed confidence in completing their mission aboard the China Space Station.

The trio will complete an in-orbit rotation with the outgoing Shenzhou-20 crew and stay on board the space station for around six months.

They are set to undertake a series of key scientific experiments during their mission, which will also see them witness the arrival of the Tianzhou-10 cargo craft and later welcome the Shenzhou-22 crewed spacecraft to take over duties onboard the space station.

Shenzhou-21 is the 37th flight mission of China's human spaceflight program and the sixth crewed mission during the application and development stage of the Tiangong Space Station.

Shenzhou-21 Crew
Commander & Pilot Zhang Lu (张陆)
Flight Engineer Wu Fei (武飞) 
Payload Specialist Zhang Hong Zhang (张洪章)

Video Credit: CCTV
Duration: 2 minute, 51 seconds
Release Date: Oct. 31, 2025

#NASA #Space #Science #China #中国 #Earth #Mice #MicrogravityExperiments #Shenzhou21Mission #神舟二十一号 #Shenzhou21Crew #Taikonauts #Astronauts #ZhangLu #WuFei #ZhangHongzhang #ChinaSpaceStation #中国空间站 #TiangongSpaceStation #SpaceLaboratory #CMSA #中国载人航天工程办公室 #HumanSpaceflight #JSLC #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Shenzhou-21 Crew: Pilot, Flight Engineer & Payload Specialist | China Space Station

Shenzhou-21 Crew: Pilot, Flight Engineer & Payload Specialist | China Space Station

China's Shenzhou-21 spaceflight crew consists of three types of astronauts, namely a spacecraft pilot, flight engineer, and payload specialist.

The three astronauts of China's Shenzhou-21 spaceflight mission have arrived at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China after a send-off ceremony was held on Friday, October 31, 2025, and are now ready to board the spacecraft as the launch countdown continues.

The Shenzhou-21 spacecraft is scheduled to blast off from the launch site at 23:44 Friday (Beijing Time) and will later dock with the Tiangong space station after entering orbit.

The three crew members, including mission commander Zhang Lu and debutants Wu Fei and Zhang Hongzhang, have all expressed confidence in completing their mission aboard the China Space Station.

The trio will complete an in-orbit rotation with the outgoing Shenzhou-20 crew and stay on board the space station for around six months.

They are set to undertake a series of key scientific experiments during their mission, which will also see them witness the arrival of the Tianzhou-10 cargo craft and later welcome the Shenzhou-22 crewed spacecraft to take over duties onboard the space station.

Shenzhou-21 is the 37th flight mission of China's human spaceflight program and the sixth crewed mission during the application and development stage of the Tiangong Space Station.

Shenzhou-21 Crew
Commander & Pilot Zhang Lu (张陆)
Flight Engineer Wu Fei (武飞) 
Payload Specialist Zhang Hong Zhang (张洪章)

Video Credit: CCTV
Duration: 2 minutes, 10 seconds
Release Date: Oct. 31, 2025

#NASA #Space #Science #China #中国 #Earth #Mice #MicrogravityExperiments #Shenzhou21Mission #神舟二十一号 #Shenzhou21Crew #Taikonauts #Astronauts #ZhangLu #WuFei #ZhangHongzhang #ChinaSpaceStation #中国空间站 #TiangongSpaceStation #SpaceLaboratory #CMSA #中国载人航天工程办公室 #HumanSpaceflight #JSLC #STEM #Education #HD #Video