Historical Organization
China Manned Space Agency
China Manned Space Agency
Details
Organization Timeline
Shenzhou VI launches with two astronauts
đź“… 12 October 2005China launched Shenzhou VI, its first crewed mission carrying two astronauts and its first multi-day human spaceflight. The mission demonstrated advances in engineering and state capacity. Space...
China launches Tiangong-1 space laboratory
đź“… 29 September 2011China launched its first space laboratory module, a step toward developing a permanent crewed space station. The program built independent technological capacity after exclusion from the International...
Shenzhou-12 launches China’s first crewed mission to its new space station
📅 17 June 2021Three astronauts launched to the Tianhe core module, beginning a series of missions to assemble and operate China’s space station. The program demonstrated independent human-spaceflight capacity after...
Shenzhou-13 crew begins a six-month mission in orbit
📅 16 October 2021Three astronauts launched to Tiangong for a planned six-month stay, China’s longest crewed mission to that point. The mission supported construction of an independent orbital platform and demonstrated...
Shenzhou-13 crew returns after six-month mission
📅 16 April 2022The Shenzhou-13 return capsule landed safely after a 183-day mission aboard China’s Tiangong space station. The crew included Wang Yaping, the first Chinese woman to conduct a spacewalk. The mission...
Mengtian module completes China’s T-shaped space station
📅 3 November 2022After docking, the Mengtian laboratory module completed the basic T-shaped configuration of Tiangong. The station became a major symbol of China’s independent scientific and engineering capacity and...
Shenzhou-16 crew launches to the Tiangong space station
đź“… 30 May 2023The mission included the first Chinese civilian astronaut to travel to space, alongside experienced military astronauts. It expanded the human-spaceflight program and signaled that Chinese space...
Tianzhou-10 cargo craft docks with China’s space station
đź“… 11 May 2026China launched Tianzhou-10 to deliver supplies and research equipment to the Tiangong station. The mission sustained a permanent human presence in orbit and demonstrated independent logistics...
Shenzhou-23 launches with a new crew for Tiangong
📅 24 May 2026China launched the Shenzhou-23 crewed spacecraft to its space station. The mission extended the country’s capacity for long-duration orbital research and international visibility. The event forms part...