By 
March 15th, 2026
Artwork depicts China’s Tiangong space station.
Image credit: China Manned Space Agency
China’s Shenzhou-21 astronauts continue to perform a series of tasks aboard the country’s Tiangong space station, including in-orbit experiments, equipment maintenance and health
The China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) said on March 15 that the crew — mission commander Zhang Lu and astronauts Wu Fei and Zhang Hongzhang — have spent more than four months in orbit and remain in good health.
This Shenzhou-21 trio departed the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on October 31, 2025, boarding the space station for a six-month mission.
Image credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab
Cultivating work
As reported by the China Central Television (CCTV), inside the station’s core module, cherry tomatoes cultivated using a water aeroponic device are thriving.
Crew members documented the plants with photos, harvested ripe fruit and sealed both plants and produce separately for preservation.
Image credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab
“Building on the success of the cherry tomato cultivation, the team will conduct aeroponic experiments with wheat, carrots, and both medicinal and edible plants as planned,” CCTV reports. “These trials aim to validate key technologies and expand the range of crops and technical capabilities for space cultivation.”
Materials science
Space materials science tasks include cleaning the experimental chamber in the unpressurized compartment, replacing experimental samples, maintaining the electrodes of the central mechanism, and cleaning the window cover of the central mechanism.
Crew members also completed microgravity combustion science experiments, such as replacing the burner and sampling cover inside the experiment cabinet.
Image credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab Crew members also completed microgravity combustion science experiments, such as replacing the burner and sampling cover inside the experiment cabinet.
Medical training
As for maintenance of the regenerative life support system equipment, the Shenzhou-21 team monitored microorganisms and carried out medical training. Doing so, reports CCTV, helps familiarize the astronauts with the rescue operation methods and force application characteristics in a microgravity environment.
For a video spotlighting life aboard China’s station, go to:
Posted in Space News
