China's Tiangong space station welcomed its latest robotic resupply mission on November 26, 2025, as the uncrewed Shenzhou-22 spacecraft successfully docked with the orbital outpost just three hours after launch. The China Manned Space Agency confirmed the cargo craft's automated docking with the Tianhe core module at 3:50 p.m. Beijing time.
Launched aboard a Long March-2F Y22 rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, the mission delivered critical supplies including fresh food, medical equipment, and specialized tools to repair a damaged window on the currently docked Shenzhou-20 spacecraft. The rapid three-hour rendezvous marks China's continued advancement in space logistics capabilities.
The Shenzhou-22 will later serve as the return vehicle for the three-member Shenzhou-21 crew currently aboard Tiangong, whose stay was extended following technical challenges with the Shenzhou-20 spacecraft. Earlier this month, the Shenzhou-20's return to Earth was postponed after sustaining space debris damage, underscoring the challenges of sustained human presence in low-Earth orbit.
This mission demonstrates China's growing proficiency in space station operations, with the Tiangong facility now entering its fourth year of continuous crewed operations. The successful cargo transfer comes as international observers monitor China's progress toward completing the space station's final configuration by late 2026.
