By 
February 8th, 2026
Image credit: CMSA/CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab
China’s Shenzhou-21 astronauts continue to carry out multiple in-orbit tasks, from performing scientific experiments, space station upkeep, equipment maintenance, to health management over the past week, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).
Mission commander Zhang Lu and astronauts Wu Fei and Zhang Hongzhang have spent over three months in orbit.
The Shenzhou-21 crewed spacecraft was launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on October 31, 2025.
This three-person crew completed their mission’s first series of extravehicular activities on December 9.
Artwork depicts China’s Tiangong space station.
Image credit: China Manned Space Agency
Onboard work
As reported by the state-run China Central Television (CCTV), in the field of space medicine, the trio collected blood samples, which will be used to study the patterns of change and adaptation mechanisms in astronauts’ bones, nerves, and cerebral vessels during long-duration spaceflight.
Using laptops, the crew also conducted experiments related to the effects of long-term exposure to microgravity on upper and lower visual field differences and their cognitive neural mechanisms.
In the realm of microgravity physical science, the three astronauts cleaned samples in non-container experimental chambers, performed electrode maintenance, cleaned lens covers, disassembled and reassembled fluid dynamics experimental modules and replaced experimental samples.
Image credit: CMSA/CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab
Clean cabin
For health management, the trio of taikonauts utilized devices with adsorption force to keep their leg muscles strong and completed eye, vision and optic nerve testing, reported CCTV.
In terms of onboard environmental monitoring and equipment maintenance, they used a dew point meter to monitor the thermal environment inside the cabin and conducted air cleanliness tests. They also sorted supplies and cleaned the cabin.
Go to this CCTV video spotlighting onboard station life aboard China’s space station at:
Posted in Space News
