Shenzhou 21 astronauts return to Earth after 210-day mission, switching spacecraft due to debris damage
China’s Shenzhou 21 astronaut mission ended on May 29, 2026, when the trio returned to Earth in a borrowed spacecraft, landing at the Dongfeng Landing Site in Inner Mongolia at 8:11 a.m. EDT. The crew — commander Zhang Lu, Wu Fei, and Zhang Hongzhang — spent 210 days in orbit, setting a new duration record for a Chinese crewed mission. Their return vehicle was Shenzhou 22, an uncrewed craft launched on Nov. 24, 2025 after a space debris strike damaged the original Shenzhou 20 capsule. The Shenzhou 20 crew had returned to Earth on Nov. 14, 2025 aboard the Shenzhou 21 spacecraft, briefly leaving the newly arrived Shenzhou 21 astronauts on the Tiangong space station without a ride home. The damaged Shenzhou 20 capsule returned to Earth uncrewed on Jan. 21, 2026. During their extended stay, the Shenzhou 21 crew conducted three spacewalks and numerous scientific experiments. The Shenzhou 23 crew, which launched on May 24, 2026, has taken over operations, and one of its members is scheduled to spend a full year aboard Tiangong.
What’s reported
The Shenzhou 21 astronauts returned to Earth on May 29, 2026 at 8:11 a.m. EDT.
The mission lasted 210 days, a record for a Chinese crewed mission.
The crew landed at the Dongfeng Landing Site in Inner Mongolia.
The astronauts returned aboard Shenzhou 22, an uncrewed vehicle launched on Nov. 24, 2025.
The original Shenzhou 20 capsule had a cracked window from a space debris strike, deemed too risky to use.
The Shenzhou 20 crew returned to Earth on Nov. 14, 2025 using the Shenzhou 21 spacecraft.
The damaged Shenzhou 20 capsule returned uncrewed on Jan. 21, 2026.
Shenzhou 21 launched on Oct. 31, 2025 to relieve the Shenzhou 20 crew.
The Shenzhou 21 crew conducted three spacewalks and various scientific experiments.
The Shenzhou 23 crew launched on May 24, 2026, and one member will spend a full year on Tiangong.
Open questions
Which Shenzhou 23 astronaut will spend a full year aboard Tiangong is not revealed in the source article.
Key figures
Zhang Lu: Shenzhou 21 mission commander, second spaceflight
Wu Fei: Shenzhou 21 astronaut, 32 years old, youngest Chinese astronaut to fly to space
Zhang Hongzhang: Shenzhou 21 astronaut, first spaceflight
Zhu Yangzhu: Shenzhou 23 mission commander
Zhang Zhiyuan: Shenzhou 23 astronaut
Lai Ka-ying: First astronaut from Hong Kong to reach space
Sources: space.com
