Shenzhou-23 Crew Assume Tiangong Responsibilities from Shenzhou-21
Tiangong TV: June 7th 2026.
Almost two weeks ago, Shenzhou-23 taikonauts Zhu Yangzhu (朱杨柱)1, Li Jiaying (黎家盈)2, and Zhang Zhiyuan (张志远)3 boarded the Tiangong Space Station in low Earth orbit, being greeted by the outgoing Zhang Lu (张陆)4, Wu Fei (武飞)5, and Zhang Hongzhang (张洪章)6 of Shenzhou-21.
Those two crews spent just under four days working with each other, with the new trio primarily tasked with adapting to microgravity and performing monitoring experiments related to it. On their final full day of working together, Shenzhou-23’s taikonauts were symbolically handed the keys to the space station and had responsibility for it signed over to them from Shenzhou-21.
With their responsibilities handed over, the Shenzhou-21 crew returned to Earth on May 29th, ending their seven-month stay and returning the orbiting laboratory to its permanent occupancy state of three taikonauts.
Events and activities performed by the six spacefarers during their time together has recently been shared by the China Manned Space Agency via a new episode of ‘Tiangong TV’, a usually weekly show about the station that is released a few days behind current events.
Attached below is a translated transcript of the newest episode:
Not long ago, the Chinese space station witnessed its eighth space reunion. The six taikonauts from Shenzhou-23 and Shenzhou-21 worked side-by-side to conduct space science experiments and complete the on-orbit handover. The new season of Tiangong TV will continue to accompany everyone on this exciting space journey.
During the on-orbit crew rotation, the two crews lived and worked closely together to complete a comprehensive handover. As planned, the Shenzhou-23 crew will launch over one hundred new scientific and applied projects during their mission, focusing on in-depth research and verification of cutting-edge scientific and technological issues in fields such as space life sciences, space materials science, microgravity fluid physics, space medicine, and new space technologies.
After bidding farewell to their colleagues, the Shenzhou-23 crew closely monitored the progress of the [Shenzhou-21] return mission. Currently, taikonauts Zhu Yangzhu, Zhang Zhiyuan, and Li Jiaying have adapted to the microgravity environment and are carrying out their tasks according to the work plan and schedule.
Currently, the Shenzhou-23 crew's orbital work is progressing smoothly. Stay tuned for more new events in space. See you next week!
If there are any problems with this translation please reach out and correct me.
Tiangong TV Episode June 7th 2026 produced by the China Manned Space Agency, cloned to YouTube for viewing on the Western internet and archival.
Commander of the mission for his second spaceflight, having flown as part of the Shenzhou-16 mission, for 153 days from May 30th 2023 to October 31st 2023. Born in September 1986, he is from Peixian (沛县), in Jiangsu (江苏) province, and was selected as part of China’s third taikoanut group in 2020.
Before becoming a taikonaut, he worked as an Associate Professor of aerospace engineering within the People’s Liberation Army, where he achieved the rank of Colonel. Since December 2006, Zhu Yangzhu has been a member of the Communist Party of China. He has been awarded the title of ‘Heroic Astronaut’ too.
Mission Specialist for the mission, she is flying for the first time following selection as a fourth batch taikonaut in 2024. Born in November 1982, she is from the Hong Kong (香港) Special Administrative Region.
Prior to being selected, she was a Chief Inspector of the Hong Kong Police Force, reaching the rank of Superintendent, and holds a PhD in computational and information science-related subjects.
Spacecraft Pilot of the mission, he is in space for the first time after being selected as part of the third group in 2020. Born in June 1986, he is from Gansu (甘肃) province.
Before being selected as a taikoanut as part of the third group, he served in the People’s Liberation Army Air Force as a pilot, where he achieved the rank of Colonel. He has been a member of the Communist Party of China since 2011.
Zhang Lu is the Commander and Pilot of the mission for his second spaceflight, having flown for the Shenzhou-15 mission between November 2022 and June 2023. He is from Hanshou County (汉寿县), Hunan (湖南) province, and was selected as part of China’s second taikonaut group in 2010, also being considered a ‘post-70s’ taikonaut having been born in November 1976.
Before becoming a taikonaut, Zhang served in the People’s Liberation Army Air Force and achieved the rank of Senior Colonel. He also joined the Communist Party of China in April 1999. After the Shenzhou-15 mission, Zhang was awarded the Spaceflight Merit Medal (Third Class) along with the honorary title of hero taikonaut.
Wu Fei is the Flight Engineer for this mission, which will be his first trip into space. He is from Baotou (包头市 / ᠪᠤᠭᠤᠲᠤᠬᠣᠲᠠ), in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region (内蒙古自治区 / ᠥᠪᠥᠷ ᠮᠣᠩᠭᠣᠯ ᠤᠨ ᠤᠨᠥᠪᠡᠷᠲᠡᠭᠨ ᠵᠠᠰᠠᠬᠤ ᠣᠷᠣᠨ), and was selected as part of the third taikonaut group in October 2020, while being considered a ‘post-90s’ taikonaut having been born in 1993.
Before his selection as a taikonaut, Wu was an engineer at the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. He also joined the Communist Party of China in 2015.
Zhang Hongzhang is the Payload Expert for this mission, with it being his first trip to space. He is from Binzhou (滨州市), Shandong (山东) province, and was also selected as part of the third taikonaut group in October 2020, while being considered a ‘post-80s’ taikonaut having been born in 1986.
Prior to being selected as a taikonaut, Zhang was a researcher at the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (中国科学院大连化学物理研究所), where he explored new materials and technology for batteries. He also joined the Communist Party of China in 2004.