Leonard David's INSIDE OUTER SPACE

Image credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab

China is set to launch its next human spaceflight crew on their Shenzhou-21 mission, the 10th piloted mission since China began the initial construction of its space station and the sixth one since the space station entered the stage of application and development.

The still unidentified Shenzhou-21 crew will replace the astronauts of the Shenzhou-20 mission, who have been in orbit for six months and will soon return to Earth. Ground teams have carried out drills at the projected landing site.

Reportedly, an October 31st launch date is targeted to send the Shenzhou-21 replacement crew to the Tiangong space station.

Image credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab

Launch drills

The combination of the Shenzhou-21 spaceship and a Long March-2F Y21 carrier rocket was transferred to the launch area at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center last Friday.

Meanwhile, the Shenzhou-20 crew, who have been in orbit for more than 180 days, continue to make preparations for the upcoming space station handover with the Shenzhou-21 crew.  

A joint drill for lofting the Shenzhou-21 crewed mission was held at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on Monday, October 27^th.

Go to this video highlighting launch preparations at:

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1154481020118369