Kathmandu— Three Chinese astronauts who comprised the crew of the Shenzhou-21 mission received medals and honors on Thursday in recognition of their contributions to China's space program. Zhang Lu was awarded a second-class aerospace achievement medal, while Wu Fei and Zhang Hongzhang each received third-class medals and the title of “heroic astronaut.” The awards were presented by the Communist Party of China Central Committee, the State Council, and the Central Military Commission.

Mission Accomplishments

The Shenzhou-21 crew spent 210 days aboard the space station, launching on October 31, 2025, and returning on May 29, 2026. This duration established a new record for the longest single continuous stay in orbit by Chinese astronauts.

The mission involved numerous scientific experiments overseen by payload specialist Zhang Hongzhang, who also co-designed several of the projects conducted during their time in space.

Astronaut Profiles

Mission commander Zhang Lu, a veteran astronaut on his second spaceflight, currently holds the record for the most spacewalks performed by any Chinese astronaut. Wu Fei, serving as the flight engineer, is notably the youngest Chinese astronaut to have participated in extravehicular activities.

Zhang Hongzhang’s role as payload specialist was crucial to the execution of a wide range of scientific experiments conducted aboard the space station.

National Recognition

The awards presented to the Shenzhou-21 crew underscore China's commitment to its expanding space program and recognize the astronauts' dedication and service. The honors were jointly bestowed by key governing bodies, highlighting the national importance placed on these achievements.

The successful completion of the Shenzhou-21 mission marks another milestone in China’s ongoing efforts to establish a permanent presence in space and advance its scientific capabilities.

(With inputs from Xinhua)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.