Shenzhou-22

Launch, orbit & landing data: Designation  63645 / 2025-272A Launch date - time  25 November 2025 - 04:11:45 UTC Launch site  Jiuquan, LA-4/SLS Launch vehicle  CZ-2F/G (#Y22) Shenzhou designation   nr Mass (kg)  8082 kg? Docking date - time  25 November 2025 - 07:50 UTC Target spacecraft/port  Tiangong/Tianhe forward Earth orbit on :    - Perigee / Apogee Geocentric orbit, 379 - 389 km    - Inclination  41,47°    - Period   min Undocking date - time  in orbit - UTC Time docked  13d, 7h, 52min Landing date - time  April 2026 (planned) - UTC Landing location  Inner Mongolia, China Flight Duration (d:hr:min)   Nbr orbits   Landing crew  Crew Shenzhou-21

Launched Crew

Landing Crew (Crew Shenzhou 21)

Shenzhou-22 rocket before launch

Description:

• Shenzhou 22 was originally scheduled for launch around April 2026 as the next crew rotation mission after Shenzhou 21. CMSA announced that one astronaut was expected to stay aboard Tiangong for more than a full year, which would have enabled a Pakistani astronaut to make a short visit during the Shenzhou 23 mission.
  Shenzhou-22 launched without a crew to replace the damaged spacecraft Shenzhou-20. It will be the landing spacecraft for the crew of Shenzhou-21 (Zhang Lu,Wu Fei and Zhang Hongzhang). Shenzhou-21 was used to bring the crew of Shenzhou-20 home (Chen Dong, Chen, Zhongrui and Wang Jie).

Mission Report:

• On 25 November 2025 at 04:11:45 UTC (12:11:45 CST), Shenzhou 22 was launched uncrewed from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center aboard a Long March 2F rocket. It docked with the forward port of the Tianhe module at 07:50 UTC the same day.
• With the early return of the Shenzhou 20 crew and the use of Shenzhou 21 as their return craft, the Shenzhou 21 crew remaining aboard Tiangong were left without a flightworthy spacecraft for 11 days—a safety risk eliminated by the arrival of Shenzhou 22.
• The spacecraft delivered medical supplies, spare parts for Tiangong, and equipment to repair the cracked window on Shenzhou 20, which remains docked to the station. Additional cargo included fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as chicken wings, steak, and cake for the crew to prepare using the "space oven" first used aboard Tiangong during the last mission.
• Although Shenzhou 22 carried equipment intended to repair the damaged window on Shenzhou 20, CMSA had not announced by late November 2025 whether the spacecraft would be restored to flight-ready condition. Shenzhou 20 will either need to be repaired and returned to Earth or abandoned in orbit to clear the docking port before the arrival of the Shenzhou 23 mission, which is scheduled to relieve the current station crew.
• According to CMSA, Shenzhou 22 will remain docked for approximately six months and will serve as the return vehicle for the Shenzhou 21 crew at the end of their mission.

External links:

• Wikipedia: Descriptions
• Spacefacts: Satellite description

Astrophilately covers:

Launch cancel. Credit: #411

EVA cancel date. Credit: #411