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Shenzhou

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description Shenzhou Overview

Shenzhou is China's crewed spacecraft series developed to support human spaceflight missions in low Earth orbit. In 2003, the Shenzhou 5 mission carried the first Chinese national into space, making China the third country to achieve independent human spaceflight capabilities. The spacecraft is designed to carry astronauts to and from space stations, utilizing a modular design consisting of an orbital module, a reentry capsule, and a service module.

help Shenzhou FAQ

Who flew on the first crewed Shenzhou mission?

Yang Liwei flew aboard Shenzhou 5 in 2003 and became China's first astronaut in orbit. The mission made China the third country to launch a person using an independently developed human-spaceflight system.

Is Shenzhou copied directly from Russia's Soyuz?

Shenzhou uses a three-module layout broadly similar to Soyuz, but it is larger and has distinct Chinese systems and design choices. Its orbital module can operate independently after separating from the reentry capsule on some missions.

What space station does Shenzhou visit?

Current crewed Shenzhou missions carry taikonauts to China's Tiangong space station. Crews dock with the station and typically hand over operations to the next expedition before returning to Earth.

Where do Shenzhou capsules land?

Shenzhou returns by parachute to a designated landing region in northern China. Recent missions have used the Dongfeng landing area in Inner Mongolia.

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