The Shenzhou-21 mission team will remain in space for another month to test long-term habitation technologies.

The astronaut team of the Chinese mission Shenzhou-21 will remain in space for an additional month, according to an announcement made by the Chinese Office for Space Engineering.

The mission was launched on October 31 with the Long March-2F rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. Typically, Shenzhou crews stay in space for about six months, and the current astronauts, Zhang Hongzhang, Wu Fei, and Zhang Lu, have already completed various tasks, including installing devices for protection against space debris. They have been in orbit for over five months and have reported good health. The extension of their stay is mentioned as part of testing technologies for long-term missions, and the astronauts will continue to conduct scientific and technological experiments during this extended period.

The exact date of their return to Earth has not been specified.