China's Shenzhou-21 manned spaceship has entered its designated orbit after successfully blasting off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on Friday night. The spaceship, atop a Long March-2F carrier rocket, lifted off from the launch site in the country's northwest at 23:44 Friday (Beijing Time). About 10 minutes after launch, the spaceship separated from the rocket and has now entered its designated orbit as it prepares for the docking procedure with the Tiangong space station. The mission's three crew members, including experienced mission commander Zhang Lu and debutants Wu Fei and Zhang Hongzhang, are in good condition, while the launch was declared a "complete success" by Sun Jushun, commander of Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. The Shenzhou-21 spaceship will perform a fast, automated rendezvous and docking with the front port of the space station's Tianhe core module approximately three and a half hours after launch, forming a combination of three modules and three spacecraft. After completing a handover with the Shenzhou-20 crew, the Shenzhou-21 astronauts are set to complete a six-month stay in space, during which they will undertake more than two dozen space science research and technology experiments including the first-ever involving rodents. The trio will also perform extravehicular activities (EVAs) and cargo handling, install space debris protection devices,and deploy and recover extravehicular payloads and equipment. They will also participate in various science education and public welfare activities while in orbit. Shenzhou-21 is the 37th flight mission of China's manned space program and the sixth manned mission during the application and development stage of the Tiangong space station. Shotlist: Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, northwest China - Oct 31, 2025: 1. Various of rocket blasting off; crowd cheering, waving national flags of China; 2. Various of rocket ascending; In Space – Oct 31, 2025 3. Rocket in space, thruster working; 4. Astronauts aboard Shenzhou-21 spaceship; 5. Animation showing solar panel unfolding; Beijing, China - Nov 1, 2025 6. Various of staff of central command at Beijing Aerospace Flight Control Center; 7. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) ground control staff member, Beijing Aerospace Flight Control Center (name not given) (starting with shot 6): "Attention, all units. This is Beijing. According to Beijing's monitoring of real-time orbital data and telemetry data, the Shenzhou-21 spacecraft has entered the predetermined orbit with a perigee altitude of 200 kilometers, an apogee altitude of 363 kilometers, an inclination of 41.5 degrees, and an orbital period of one hour and 30 minutes. The spaceship's reentry capsule is in normal environment, and the astronauts are in a good condition. The spacecraft meets the requirements for performing an autonomous rapid rendezvous and docking within 3.5 hours. The subsequent procedures will be implemented according to the flight control plan."; China - Nov 1, 2025 8. Split screens showing staff members at Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, Beijing Aerospace Flight Control Center; Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, northwest China - Nov 1, 2025 9. Sun Jushun, commander of Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, walking to podium; 10. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Sun Jushun, commander, Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center (starting with shot 9): "Distinguished superiors and comrades, according to the rocket's flight data and calculations by the Beijing Aerospace Flight Control Center based on monitoring data, the Long March-2F Y21 carrier rocket has accurately sent the Shenzhou-21 manned spacecraft to the predetermined orbit. The spacecraft is functioning normally. I hereby announce the Shenzhou-21 manned spacecraft launch mission a complete success."; 11. Various of scientists, technicians applauding; 12. Screen showing congratulatory message. [Restriction - No access Chinese mainland]