China successfully launched its Shenzhou-21 crewed spaceship on Friday evening, sending three astronauts into space to begin a six-month mission aboard the Tiangong space station. The spaceship, atop a Long March-2F carrier rocket, blasted off at 23:44 (Beijing Time) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, with the launch later being declared a "complete success" by the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. The Shenzhou-21 crew consists of mission commander Zhang Lu, who was previously a member of the Shenzhou-15 mission, alongside flight engineer Wu Fei and payload specialist Zhang Hongzhang, who are each embarking on their first spaceflight mission. Earlier on Friday, a special send-off ceremony was held for the astronauts before they departed for the launch site, with crowds of well-wishers gathering to see them off. After lifting off as scheduled, the Shenzhou-21 spaceship separated from the rocket around 10 minutes after launch and later entered its designated orbit, said the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA). The Shenzhou-21 crewed spaceship will adopt a fast automated rendezvous and docking mode and dock with the front port of the Tianhe core module approximately three and a half hours after launch, forming a three-spacecraft and three-module combination. After completing a handover with the Shenzhou-20 crew, the Shenzhou-21 astronauts are set to get work on a busy program of activities during their six-month stay in space. The new crew are set to complete 27 new science and application projects onboard the space station, covering various fields from space life sciences and biotechnology, space medicine, space material science, microgravity fluid physics and combustion, and new space technologies. The trio of astronauts are also notably joined in space by a group of four mice which will be involved in a series of in-orbit scientific experiments, marking the first time China has sent rodents on a manned space mission. The mission also plans to undertake in-orbit studies on lithium-ion batteries for space applications, and intelligent computing platforms. The crew members 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. During their time in orbit, the Shenzhou-21 crew will witness the arrival of the Tianzhou-10 cargo spacecraft and later welcome the Shenzhou-22 crewed spaceship, who will take over duties aboard the space station. Shenzhou-21 marks the 37th flight of China's manned spaceflight program and the sixth manned flight mission since the Tiangong space station entered its application and development phase. Shotlist: Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, northwest China - Oct 31, 2025: 1. Various of send-off ceremony in progress; Shenzhou-21 astronauts Zhang Lu (C), Wu Fei (R), Zhang Hongzhang (L) walking, waving to crowd, standing in front of commander-in-chief of China's manned space program; 2. Zhang Lu saluting to commander-in-chief; commander-in-chief saluting to astronauts; 3. Shenzhou-21 astronauts standing in front of commander-in-chief; Zhang Lu speaking; 4. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Zhang Lu, commander, Shenzhou-21 spaceflight mission crew; Wu Fei, Zhang Hongzhang, members, Shenzhou-21 spaceflight mission crew (starting with shots 2-3): "Comrade commander-in-chief, we are following an order to implement the Shenzhou-21 manned spaceflight mission. And we are now ready to go, please give instructions! Astronaut Zhang Lu." "Astronaut Wu Fei." "Astronaut Zhang Hongzhang."; 5. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Commander-in-chief, China's manned space program (name not given): "Proceed!"; 6. Zhang Lu saluting to commander-in-chief; 7. Various of astronauts waving at cheering crowd, walking, boarding vehicle; 8. Various of vehicle with astronauts on board leaving for launch site; 9. Various of launch tower, vehicles arriving, astronauts getting off vehicle, entering launch tower, taking elevator, taking seats before boarding spaceship; 10. Split screens showing Shenzhou-21 astronauts, engineer inside orbital capsule, interior of reentry capsule; 11. Various of astronaut Zhang Hongzhang sliding into orbital capsule with technicians' help; 12. Astronaut Wu Fei saluting, waving, sliding into orbital capsule with technicians' help; 13. Various of astronaut Zhang Lu saluting, waving, giving thumbs up, sliding into orbital capsule with technicians' help; 14. Crew members in seats in reentry capsule; 15. Various of launch tower unfolding, Shenzhou-21 manned spaceship atop Long March-2F carrier rocket on launch pad; 16. Astronauts aboard spaceship; 17. Various of rocket blasting off, ascending, moon; In Space - Oct 31, 2025 18. Spaceship in flight, separation of escape tower; 19. Various of separations of boosters, first stage of rocket; Shenzhou-20 crew members watching from space station; 20. Astronauts aboard spaceship; 21. Separation of rocket fairing; 22. Various of spaceship in flight, astronauts aboard spaceship; Shenzhou-20 crew watching from space station; 23. Various of separation of spaceship from rocket, astronauts aboard spaceship; Shenzhou-20 crew watching from space station; In Space/Beijing, China - Oct 31, 2025 24. Various of screens showing ground team at Beijing Aerospace Flight Control Center; astronauts aboard spaceship, animation of solar panels unfolding; Shenzhou-20 crew watching from space station; Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, northwest China - Nov 1, 2025 25. Sun Jushun, commander of Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, walking to podium; 26. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Sun Jushun, commander, Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center: "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."; 27. Various of scientists, technicians applauding; 28. Screen in control room showing congratulatory message. [Restriction - No access Chinese mainland]