China has successfully launched the Shenzhou-22 spacecraft, marking another major milestone in its rapidly advancing crewed space programme. The launch took place at exactly 12:11 p.m. (Beijing Time) on Tuesday, when a Long March-2F carrier rocket thundered off the pad at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China. According to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA), the unmanned spacecraft entered its planned orbit around 10 minutes after liftoff, confirming the mission’s smooth and precise execution.
Shenzhou-22 is carrying a variety of key supplies intended to support ongoing operations aboard the China Space Station. These include space food, medical supplies, fresh produce for the astronauts, and crucial spare parts for onboard systems. Among the cargo is a set of specialised tools and components designed specifically to address the window crack discovered on the Shenzhou-20 return capsule — an issue that has drawn widespread attention and prompted an unusual adjustment to China’s tightly coordinated mission schedule.
Once in orbit, Shenzhou-22 will conduct a rapid automated rendezvous and docking procedure with the China Space Station. This technique, which China has refined over several missions, enables spacecraft to meet and dock within hours of launch, enhancing operational flexibility and efficiency. The success of this mission also marks several important achievements: it is the 38th flight in China’s manned space programme, the 610th overall launch in the Long March rocket family, and the first demonstration of China’s recently established emergency launch capability.
The Shenzhou-22 mission comes at a time of heightened focus on spacecraft safety following the unexpected anomaly involving Shenzhou-20. Earlier in the year, CMSA revealed that the Shenzhou-20 return capsule may have been struck by tiny fragments of space debris — an increasingly common hazard in Earth’s orbit. The impact was suspected after engineers identified an irregularity on the capsule’s window. Although initial assessments suggested the spacecraft remained structurally sound, authorities opted for caution, postponing the originally scheduled return date of November 5 to carry out extensive inspections.
Shenzhou-22 Spacecraft Successfully Launched, Says China
Meanwhile, mission continuity has remained stable. On November 14, the Shenzhou-21 return capsule landed safely at the Dongfeng landing site, carrying astronauts Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui, and Wang Jie back to Earth in good physical condition. Their successful return underscored the reliability of China’s spacecraft design and landing procedures. The Shenzhou-21 crew who remained in orbit have continued their routine activities aboard the China Space Station, with CMSA reporting that they are healthy, safe, and performing all tasks as planned.
China’s response to the Shenzhou-20 anomaly demonstrates the strength of its “one launch, one backup” rolling strategy. Under this mechanism, a fully assembled spacecraft and rocket remain on standby during every crewed mission. When Shenzhou-21 launched, Shenzhou-22 and its Long March-2F rocket were already positioned on emergency standby at Jiuquan, ready to be activated if any unexpected issues required rapid intervention. This system enhances redundancy, minimises mission risks, and ensures that China can respond quickly to any technical or safety concerns in orbit.
Tuesday’s launch reinforces China’s growing stature in global space exploration. With each successful mission, China continues to refine its operational capabilities, expand its orbital presence, and strengthen the scientific output of its space station. The Shenzhou-22 mission not only delivers essential supplies but also represents a strategic step in addressing the Shenzhou-20 anomaly and ensuring long-term astronaut safety.
As China advances toward more ambitious goals — including deep-space crewed missions and expanded international cooperation — each launch further demonstrates its capacity to sustain a robust and reliable human spaceflight programme.
Source- ZBC
