18.03.2026
Shenzhou-21 astronauts complete second series of extravehicular activities
This screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on March 16, 2026 shows Shenzhou-21 astronauts performing extravehicular activities (EVAs) outside China's orbiting space station. The Shenzhou-21 crew aboard China's orbiting space station completed their mission's second series of EVAs on Monday, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA). The astronaut trio -- Zhang Lu, Wu Fei and Zhang Hongzhang -- worked for roughly seven hours and completed their tasks at 7:35 p.m. (Beijing Time), assisted by the space station's robotic arm and a team on Earth. The trio completed the installation of a space debris protection device for the space station along with other tasks. Zhang Lu and Wu Fei, who have conducted spacewalk operations, returned to the Wentian lab module safely, according to the CMSA. (Photo by Zhang Fan/Xinhua)
The Shenzhou-21 crew aboard China's orbiting space station completed their mission's second series of extravehicular activities (EVAs) on Monday, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).
The astronaut trio -- Zhang Lu, Wu Fei and Zhang Hongzhang -- worked for roughly seven hours and completed their tasks at 7:35 p.m. (Beijing Time), assisted by the space station's robotic arm and a team on Earth.
Zhang Lu has so far carried out six EVAs, making him one of the Chinese astronauts with the most spacewalks to date.
The trio completed the installation of a space debris protection device for the space station along with other tasks. Zhang Lu and Wu Fei, who have conducted spacewalk operations, returned to the Wentian lab module safely, according to the CMSA.
Since completing the first series of EVAs on Dec. 9, 2025, the Shenzhou-21 crew has carried out equipment inspection and maintenance, environmental monitoring, and health management aboard the space station. The crew members have also conducted in-orbit training exercises, including rendezvous and docking, medical rescue, and emergency lifesaving.
The scientific experiment and test projects they undertook, covering space life science and human research, microgravity physics, and new space technologies, have been progressing steadily. They also celebrated the Spring Festival in Year of the Horse while in orbit.
The CMSA said the three astronauts have been working in orbit for more than four months. According to the mission plan, additional EVAs will be carried out by the crew during the Shenzhou-21 mission, with relevant scientific experiments and technical tests continuing as scheduled.
This screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on March 16, 2026 shows Shenzhou-21 astronauts performing extravehicular activities (EVAs) outside China's orbiting space station. The Shenzhou-21 crew aboard China's orbiting space station completed their mission's second series of EVAs on Monday, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA). The astronaut trio -- Zhang Lu, Wu Fei and Zhang Hongzhang -- worked for roughly seven hours and completed their tasks at 7:35 p.m. (Beijing Time), assisted by the space station's robotic arm and a team on Earth. The trio completed the installation of a space debris protection device for the space station along with other tasks. Zhang Lu and Wu Fei, who have conducted spacewalk operations, returned to the Wentian lab module safely, according to the CMSA. (Photo by Zhang Fan/Xinhua)
Quelle: Xinhua
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Update: 18.04.2026
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Shenzhou-21 astronauts complete third series of extravehicular activities
This screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on April 16, 2026 shows Shenzhou-21 astronaut Wu Fei performing extravehicular activities (EVAs) outside China's orbiting space station. (Photo by Zhang Fan/Xinhua)
The Shenzhou-21 crew aboard China's orbiting space station completed their mission's third series of extravehicular activities (EVAs) on Friday, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).
The astronaut trio -- Zhang Lu, Wu Fei and Zhang Hongzhang -- worked for roughly 5.5 hours and completed their tasks at 1:36 a.m. (Beijing Time), assisted by the space station's robotic arm and a team on Earth. They completed the installation of space debris protection equipment and the inspection of extravehicular equipment.
Zhang Lu and Wu Fei, who conducted spacewalk operations, returned safely to the Wentian lab module.
To date, Zhang Lu has conducted 7 extravehicular activities, setting a new record for the most spacewalks by a Chinese astronaut.
The CMSA disclosed that since the second EVAs on March 16, the Shenzhou-21 astronauts have been steadily advancing their experimental missions in space life science, human body research, and microgravity physics.
They have continued to conduct station environmental monitoring, equipment inspection and maintenance, and supply organization. The crew has also completed full-system pressure emergency drills, in-orbit emergency rescue training, and EVAs preparations.
To date, the three astronauts have been in orbit for over five months, and are in good working and living conditions.
After a thorough analysis and evaluation, the CMSA plans to extend the in-orbit stay of the Shenzhou-21 crew by approximately one month, so as to further verify the technologies regarding the long-term stay of astronauts in orbit and fully use the supplies delivered by the Shenzhou-22 spacecraft in an emergency launch. ■
This screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on April 16, 2026 shows Shenzhou-21 astronaut Wu Fei performing extravehicular activities (EVAs) outside China's orbiting space station. (Photo by Zhang Fan/Xinhua)
This screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on April 16, 2026 shows Shenzhou-21 astronaut Wu Fei performing extravehicular activities (EVAs) outside China's orbiting space station. (Photo by Zhang Fan/Xinhua)
This screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on April 16, 2026 shows Shenzhou-21 astronaut Wu Fei performing extravehicular activities (EVAs) outside China's orbiting space station. (Photo by Zhang Fan/Xinhua)
This screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on April 16, 2026 shows Shenzhou-21 astronauts Wu Fei (L) and Zhang Lu preparing to perform extravehicular activities (EVAs) outside China's orbiting space station. (Photo by Zhang Fan/Xinhua)
Quelle: Xinhua
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Update: 1.06.2026
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China's space station lands new batch of samples for experiments
A total of approximately 41.14 kg of scientific samples from China's space station, spanning 23 experimental projects in life sciences, materials and combustion, successfully returned to Earth aboard the Shenzhou-22 spacecraft on Friday, according to the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).
It marks the tenth transfer of materials from China's orbiting laboratory.
Life science experiment samples, such as artificial embryos and brain organoids, were transported to the Technology and Engineering Center for Space Utilization (CSU) under the CAS in Beijing on Saturday.
After initial status checks, these specimens will be handed over to research teams for further study. The remaining samples will be transported to Beijing along with the Shenzhou-22 return capsule.
In the field of life sciences, scientists will focus on the cutting-edge area of "artificial embryos" to reveal how life adapts to space, providing vital health insights for future long-term space habitation and deep-space exploration.
For the returned samples, including novel titanium alloys, high-strength and tough steels, and relaxor ferroelectric single crystals, scientists will conduct rigorous analyses of their microstructures, chemical compositions, and compositional distributions to understand how gravity influences material growth, segregation, defects, and overall performance.
The findings will guide the optimization of new alloys and the ground-based production of key materials, supporting their application in aerospace, high-end manufacturing, precision sensing, and medical ultrasound imaging.
Following the return of combustion experiment samples -- including burners, soot collection plates, and collection lids -- scientists will analyze flame-synthesized semiconductor nanomaterials, soot samples, and the characteristics of carbon nanoparticle formation.
The findings are expected to provide technical support for extraterrestrial flame synthesis of nanomaterials, the development of new energy systems, space fire prevention technology, and the preparation of advanced functional carbon nanomaterials.
Quelle: Xinhua
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Update: 11.06.2026
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Experiment on China's space station expected to provide new approach for fatty liver treatment
A study aboard China's space station Tiangong is expected to identify the regulatory mechanisms of a type of liver cell's metabolism and provide a new approach to treating fatty liver disease.
This seven-day on-orbit experiment, concluded last week, was designed to elucidate the effects of space-associated biological phase separation on lipid metabolism under microgravity conditions.
Space microgravity constitutes a unique mechanical environment, involving factors that strongly regulate the metabolic functions of hepatocytes -- a type of liver cell -- said Li Ning, an associate researcher at the Institute of Mechanics of Chinese Academy of Sciences.
The liver is an organ with a highly-complex mechanical micro-environment. "During the progression of diseases such as liver fibrosis or fatty liver disease, changes in the mechanical micro-environment occur, including increased stiffness and altered blood flow," said Li.
Based on extensive experimental findings, scientists believe that the most direct mechanical factor leading to abnormal lipid metabolism in the liver is fluid shear stress.
Under normal conditions, blood flow creates interstitial shear stress as it passes through the walls of hepatic blood vessels, "washing over" the hepatocytes and thereby maintaining metabolic homeostasis.
In a microgravity environment, however, the cephalad redistribution of body fluids leads to increased blood flow above the heart and reduced blood flow below the heart, resulting in a significant decrease in portal venous blood flow to the liver.
At the same time, the disappearance of hydrostatic pressure reduces the pressure load on the liver. "The mechanical effect of blood flow on the liver is reduced in space," said Li.
Consequently, the regulatory role of blood flow diminishes, and fat accumulates more.
To study how blood flow shear stress regulates liver metabolic functions, the experiments conducted during the Shenzhou-16 space flight mission have shown that the microgravity environment activated the SREBP protein, leading to an increase in intracellular lipid droplets. Blood flow, however, inhibits the SREBP and exerts a protective effect, reducing lipid droplets.
Given that previous studies have confirmed the protective effect of the blood flow environment on cells, the new experiment specifically designed a corresponding intervention group to enhance cellular responses to mechanical stimulation from blood flow.
The in-orbit experiment selected hepatocytes as the research subject and designed three experimental conditions that included static culture, simulated blood flow environment and "blood flow environment with drug stimulation," totaling six cell samples.
The entire experiment was initiated by ground-based researchers through remote commands.
"During the in-orbit culture period, we performed microscopic imaging of the cells everyday to observe their growth status in real time," Li said, noting that on the seventh day, the system automatically injected a fixative solution to preserve the cellular state. Afterwards, the samples were placed into a freezer at minus 80 degrees Celsius for storage.
The samples are scheduled to be brought back to Earth in the second half of this year. The collection and in-depth analysis of the vast majority of core data will officially begin afterwards.
Quelle: Xinhua