TheTechno Optimist.

Mengzhou & Lanyue Lunar SystemChina Manned Space Agency—Mengzhou spacecraft successfully completes in-flight abort test during maximum dynamic pressure phaseXuntian (CSST) space telescopeChina Manned Space Agency—Xuntian team completes a pixel-level simulation of the whole telescope ahead of launchShenzhouChina Manned Space Agency—Damaged Shenzhou-20 capsule survives an uncrewed reentry after in-orbit repairsTiangong Space StationChina Manned Space Agency—CMSA announces Tiangong cross-shape expansionShenzhouChina Manned Space Agency—China launches uncrewed Shenzhou-22 to replace the cracked Shenzhou-20 lifeboat at TiangongShenzhouChina Manned Space Agency—Shenzhou-23 docks at Tiangong with Hong Kong's first astronaut; one crew member to stay a year

Shenzhou

by China Manned Space AgencyCN

Give China its own way to fly people to orbit and back, keeping Tiangong crewed all year with six-month rotations and a docked lifeboat, until the larger Mengzhou ship takes over.

DeployStage 4 of 5

Shenzhou-23 crew aboard Tiangong since May 2026; Shenzhou-24 due in late 2026 with a Pakistani visitor.

Updated 25 May 2026Checked 11 Oct0 updates this week

Milestones

Next · Shenzhou-24 crew launch, with a short Pakistani visit
  1. Shenzhou 1, first uncrewed test flight19 Nov 1999Complete.
  2. Shenzhou 5 flies Yang Liwei, China's first astronaut15 Oct 2003Complete.
  3. Shenzhou-20 window cracks; crew returns on Shenzhou-2114 Nov 2025Complete.
  4. Uncrewed Shenzhou-22 launched as a replacement lifeboat25 Nov 2025Complete.
  5. Damaged Shenzhou-20 returns uncrewed after in-orbit repairsJan 2026Complete.
  6. Shenzhou-23 flies the first astronaut from Hong Kong24 May 2026Complete.
  7. Shenzhou-24 crew launch, with a short Pakistani visitTarget Q4 2026Current milestone.
  8. One Shenzhou-23 crew member completes about a year in orbitTarget 2027Not yet reached.

Most important updates

Upcoming

  1. Q4 2026Shenzhou-24 crew launch, with a short Pakistani visit (next)
  2. 2027One Shenzhou-23 crew member completes about a year in orbit
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