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ELITEActiveCNSA
ELITEActiveCNSACNSA·🇨🇳 China·Born 1976
Zhang Lu
PLA Air Force pilot and second-batch taikonaut who first flew on Shenzhou-15.
1.1y
Years in Space
2
Missions
2
EVAs
14h
EVA Time
Inspirations
What they aspire to
He hopes to command future long-duration missions to Tiangong.
Biography
PLA Air Force pilot and second-batch taikonaut who first flew on Shenzhou-15. Returned to the Tiangong space station as commander of Shenzhou-21.
Before NASAPLA Air Force fighter pilot who graduated from the PLA Air Force Aviation University in 2000 before being selected as a taikonaut in 2010.
Mission Timeline
- Mission Specialist
Shenzhou spacecraft
Shenzhou 15
Launch: Nov 29, 2022Landing: Jun 4, 2023Duration: 186 days- First crew rotation aboard fully assembled Tiangong
- Commander
Shenzhou spacecraft
Shenzhou 21
Launch: Oct 31, 2025Landing: May 29, 2026Duration: 210 days- Crew returned to Earth aboard the Shenzhou-22 spacecraft
Beyond the Mission
Causes They Champion
Promoting Chinese space station operationsInspiring young pilots from rural China
Languages
Mandarin Chinese
Awards & Honors
- Heroic Astronaut
- Third-Grade Space Service Medal
Fun fact
He waited 12 years between selection in 2010 and his first flight on Shenzhou 15 in 2022, then returned as commander of Shenzhou 21 in 2025.
Learn More
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