Overview
- The spacecraft reached Tiangong about 3.5 hours after liftoff, a national record, docking at 3:22 a.m. Saturday following a precise orbital insertion.
- Over six months the crew will conduct 27 investigations, install debris shielding, and test next‑generation spacesuits to bolster long‑duration operations.
- China’s first in‑orbit mammal study uses four mice to probe behavior and physiology in microgravity, with the animals expected to return after roughly a week.
- The team includes veteran commander Zhang Lu, 32‑year‑old flight engineer Wu Fei—now the youngest Chinese astronaut in orbit—and researcher Zhang Hongzhang.
- Officials frame the mission as stepping‑stone progress toward a crewed Moon landing in 2030, alongside growing cooperation that includes training Pakistani astronauts.