Shenzhou 22
Emergency uncrewed mission restored Tiangong crew return capability.
Shenzhou 22 (Chinese: 神舟二十二号; pinyin: Shénzhōu èrshí’èr-hào; lit. 'Divine Boat Number 22') is a planned crewed mission to the Tiangong space station, part of China's ongoing human spaceflight program. As of the current record, the mission has not yet launched, and its specific objectives, crew, and timeline remain subject to official announcements from the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA). It is expected to continue the routine crew rotation and scientific operations aboard Tiangong, following the precedents set by earlier Shenzhou missions.
Quick Facts
- Mission Type
- Tiangong space station crew transport
- Operator
- China Manned Space Agency
- Spacecraft Type
- Shenzhou
- Manufacturer
- China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation
- Crew Members
- 0 up, 3 down
- Crew Landing
- Zhang Lu · Wu Fei · Zhang Hongzhang
- Launch Date
- 25 November 2025, 04:11:45UTC (12:11:45CST)
- Launch Rocket
- Long March 2F/G (Y22)
- Launch Site
- Jiuquan, LA-4/SLS-1
- Launch Contractor
- China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology
- Landing Date
- 29 May 2026, 12:11 UTC
- Landing Site
- Inner Mongolia (41 · 38 · 56 · N · 100 · 04 · 55 · E)
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Shenzhou 22 is anticipated as a future crewed rotation mission to the Tiangong space station, continuing the pattern of regular crew exchanges and scientific research. As of 2025, no official details have been released regarding its crew, launch date, or specific mission goals. There is no confirmed plan for a Pakistani astronaut or any other international visitor to Tiangong on Shenzhou 22 or associated missions; international cooperation remains a topic of discussion but has not been formally announced for this timeframe. The so-called 'one launch, one on standby' policy and any emergency uncrewed mission scenarios are not part of official CMSA operations or real history. All information about Shenzhou 22 beyond its designation as a planned mission is speculative and should be treated as such until official sources provide updates.
Reader's Guide
Shenzhou 22's significance lies in its role as an emergency response mission that demonstrated China's contingency capability in human spaceflight. The rapid reassignment and accelerated launch—from a planned crew rotation in April 2026 to an uncrewed launch on 25 November 2025—highlighted the effectiveness of the 'one launch, one on standby' policy. The mission restored return capability for the Shenzhou 21 crew after the Shenzhou 20 spacecraft was deemed unfit for reentry due to window cracks from a suspected debris impact. Shenzhou 22 also delivered consumables, medical supplies, fresh food, and equipment to assess repair of the damaged window. The spacecraft incorporated upgrades including improved instrumentation, updated interfaces, and an optimized return-capsule layout with increased down-mass capacity. Its legacy includes a temporary readiness gap at Jiuquan, as the Long March 2F rocket for Shenzhou 23 remained under assembly in Beijing as of late November 2025, requiring delivery and preparation to reestablish the standby posture before the Shenzhou 21 crew's return in May 2026.
Did You Know?
- Shenzhou 22 was launched uncrewed on 25 November 2025, six months earlier than originally planned.
- The mission was reassigned after minor cracks were detected in a window of the docked Shenzhou 20 spacecraft on 5 November 2025.
- The normal test-to-launch process of more than 30 days was shortened to 16 days for this emergency launch.
- Shenzhou 22 carried equipment intended to assess whether the cracked window on Shenzhou 20 could be repaired.
More in Crewed Shenzhou missions 1-19
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced