Shenzhou (spacecraft)

Shenzhou (Chinese: 神舟; pinyin: Shénzhōu, ; see § Etymology) is a Chinese spacecraft developed for the China Manned Space Program. Its design was based on Russia's Soyuz, but larger and modernized. It has conducted 23 flights since 1999, including 17 crewed flights since 2005, the most recent being Shenzhou 23.

China unsuccessfully pursued the Shuguang crewed space program from 1967 to 1972. China signed a deal with Russia in 1995 to transfer Soyuz technology including life support, docking, and spacesuits. Like Soyuz, Shenzhou is a single-use vehicle composed of three modules; a descent module housing the crew during launch and reentry, an orbital module which provides additional living space and storage, and a service module for propulsion and power; the latter two are discarded before reentry. Its Chinese Docking Mechanism is derived from the joint Soviet-US Androgynous Peripheral Attach System. For added safety and aerodynamics, the spacecraft is encased within a fairing and fitted with a launch escape system during liftoff. All Shenzhou missions have launched on a Long March 2F variants from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, in Gansu and landed near Dorbod Banner, in Inner Mongolia.

Two Shenzhou craft are typically docked to China's Tiangongmodular space station, complemented by the Tianzhou cargo spacecraft. Shenzhou missions previously docked with the Tiangong-1 and Tiangong-2 space stations. Its maiden uncrewed flight, Shenzhou 1, was on 19 November 1999, with the first crewed mission, Shenzhou 5, taking flight on 15 October 2003. It is slated for replacement by the next-generation Mengzhou, currently in development, with a two module configuration.