China honors Shenzhou-21 mission astronauts with medals

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L-R: Zhang Hongzhang, Zhang Lu and Wu Fei. /CMG

Three astronauts from the Shenzhou-21 crewed mission were awarded medals for their service to China's space endeavors on Thursday.

Zhang Lu received a second-class aerospace achievement medal, while Wu Fei and Zhang Hongzhang received third-class medals and the honorary title of "heroic astronauts."

The awards were given by the Communist Party of China Central Committee, the State Council, and the Central Military Commission.

Zhang Lu, the mission commander and a veteran astronaut on his second spaceflight, holds the record for the most spacewalks by a Chinese astronaut.

Wu, the crew's spaceflight engineer, is the youngest Chinese astronaut to date to carry out extravehicular activities.

Zhang Hongzhang, the crew's payload specialist, oversaw a slew of scientific experiments at the space station, including projects he co-designed.

The Shenzhou-21 crew spent 210 days in orbit, from their launch on October 31, 2025, to their return on May 29, 2026, setting a new record for the longest single crew stay by Chinese astronauts.

Source(s): Xinhua News Agency

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