China honors Shenzhou XXI mission astronauts

China on Thursday awarded medals to the Shenzhou XXI mission crew members Zhang Lu, Wu Fei, and Zhang Hongzhang for their contributions to the nation's space endeavors.

Zhang Lu received a second-class aerospace achievement medal, while Wu Fei and Zhang Hongzhang were awarded third-class aerospace achievement medals and the honorary title of "heroic astronauts". The awards were conferred 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 spaceflight engineer, is the youngest Chinese astronaut to conduct extravehicular activities. Zhang Hongzhang, the payload specialist, managed numerous scientific experiments aboard the space station, including projects he co-designed.

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

Xinhua contributed to this story.