China's ambitious space program reaches another milestone as the Shenzhou-21 crewed spacecraft and its Long March-2F carrier rocket are positioned at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, according to Friday's announcement by the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA). The transfer marks the final phase of preparations before what could be the nation's sixth crewed space mission since 2003.
CMSA officials confirmed all launch site systems are operational, with engineers conducting critical pre-launch tests to ensure mission readiness. The agency emphasized its commitment to safety protocols while maintaining flexibility for the launch window, stating the mission will proceed 'at an appropriate time in the near future.'
This development comes as China accelerates its Tiangong space station program, which recently completed its basic three-module configuration. The Shenzhou-21 mission is expected to further test technologies for long-term crewed space operations, attracting attention from global space agencies and private sector stakeholders.
