China sends its youngest astronaut and four black mice to Heavenly Palace space station
CNN1 day
China Launches Shenzhou-21 with Record 3.5-Hour Docking
Above: Zhang Hongzhang (L), Zhang Lu (C) and Wu Fei at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on Oct. 31, 2025. Image copyright: Hector Retamal/AFP/Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-China narrative
China's Shenzhou-21 mission showcases remarkable technological advancement with its record-breaking 3.5-hour autonomous docking capability. It demonstrates China's growing space expertise through enhanced rocket reliability and precision orbital maneuvering. This achievement solidifies China's position as a leading space power with consistent mission success.
Anti-China narrative
China's space program is a strategic military buildup disguised as civilian exploration, designed to challenge American space dominance. The rapid development of reusable rockets and orbital infrastructure aims to establish military control over the strategic high ground of space. These capabilities threaten global security by enabling sustained military operations beyond Earth.