By 
October 29th, 2025
Image credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab
A joint drill has verified the functions and technical status of the combination of the Shenzhou-21 spaceship and its Long March-2F Y21 carrier rocket.
“Through the joint drill involving all the mission areas, we simulated the tracking and control process on the launch day,” said Zhao Guohua, a space engineer at the Qingdao Space Tracking and Control Station under the Xi’an Satellite Tracking and Control Center.
Image credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab
Zhao said that, during the drill, technicians conducted a final inspection of the equipment and re-verified its technical status.
“We are ready to escort the Shenzhou-21 astronaut crew into space,” said Zhao.
Status go
The joint drill, held on October 29th, is like a comprehensive physical examination on the spacecraft, said Liu Xiaochen, a space engineer at the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.
Image credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab
“First, it proves that the status of all systems and equipment on the spacecraft is good. The drill also tested the conditions of mutual matching between the astronaut system and each of the major systems including the rocket system, launch site system, and telemetry and control system, proving that the interfaces are compatible and in good condition, and that the spacecraft is ready for launch,” Liu added.
Loading of propellants
In a China Central Television (CCTV) interview, He Pengju, an engineer at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center said: “The enclosed area where the rocket and spacecraft are located now has two layers of insulation. After today’s full-area drill and the completion of our full-system gas inspection, the following steps include the loading of rocket propellants and the final launch that everyone is eagerly anticipating.”
Image credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab
Meanwhile, as the Chinese space station is about to enter the rendezvous and docking orbit, the Shenzhou-20 astronaut crew conducted a manual rendezvous and docking drill to prepare for the arrival of the Shenzhou-21 spacecraft.
Station handover
During the Shenzhou-21 crewed spacecraft launch, multiple land-based tracking and control stations, the space-tracking vessel Yuanwang and the Tianlian relay satellite network will sequentially handle the tracking and control tasks.
The Shenzhou-20 crew has been in orbit for half a year since their launch on April 24, 2025. The Shenzhou-21 mission will replace the Shenzhou-20 crew also for a six-month stay in orbit.
Reportedly, an October 31st launch date is targeted to send the yet to be identified Shenzhou-21 replacement crew to the Tiangong space station.
For a new video of launch preparations, go to:
Posted in Space News
