Core Points - The Shenzhou-21 manned mission is scheduled for launch on October 31 at 23:44 Beijing time, with a crew of three astronauts: Zhang Lu, Wu Fei, and Zhang Hongzhang [1][3] - This mission marks the sixth manned flight during the space station application and development phase and the 37th flight of the manned space program [7] Mission Details - The Shenzhou-21 spacecraft will dock with the Tianhe core module approximately 3.5 hours after launch using an autonomous rapid rendezvous and docking mode [7] - The crew will stay in orbit for about six months, conducting various scientific and application tasks, including space science experiments and cargo operations [7][10] - The mission will involve 27 new scientific and application projects, including the first in-orbit experiment with rodents to study the effects of microgravity on behavior [10] Astronauts and Training - The crew consists of a pilot, a flight engineer, and a payload specialist, representing all three types of active astronauts in China [3] - Zhang Lu has previously flown on the Shenzhou-15 mission, while Wu Fei and Zhang Hongzhang are participating in their first flight [3] International Collaboration - China is currently selecting Pakistani astronauts, with plans for one to participate in a short-term flight mission alongside Chinese astronauts [12] - Two astronauts from Hong Kong and Macau have completed various training programs and are preparing for potential missions by 2026 [13] Future Plans - China aims to achieve a manned moon landing by 2030, with ongoing development of key technologies and spacecraft [14][18] - The Long March 10 rocket and other related systems are progressing well, with multiple tests and preparations underway for future missions [15][17]

Core Points - The Shenzhou-21 manned flight mission press conference was held at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on October 30 [1] - The new extravehicular suits launched with the Tianzhou-9 cargo spacecraft have been optimized for thermal comfort, human-machine interface, and operational safety while ensuring reliability [1] - One of the extravehicular suits currently in orbit has been used over 20 times, marking it as the first suit to undergo lifespan assessment and extension in orbit, validating the health monitoring and assessment model [1] - The plan is to no longer use this suit for extravehicular tasks but to conduct detailed testing on its key materials and characteristics before returning it to Earth with a new research spacecraft [1]