Chinese Space Station Crew Welcome Year of the Horse with Cake and Wishes
Beijing (ANTARA) - Despite being 400 kilometres above Earth and unable to return home to celebrate the Spring Festival or Lunar New Year this year, China's taikonauts found their own way to keep the traditional Chinese holiday warm and sweet.
The Shenzhou-21 crew aboard the Tiangong space station, meaning Heavenly Palace, celebrated the arrival of the Lunar New Year, which this year marks the Year of the Horse. On Monday (16 February), Lunar New Year's Eve, the three taikonauts sent their greetings to Earth via a video released by the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).
"May everyone receive the best and find peace," said commander Zhang Lu. This was his second time celebrating the festival in space. Zhang previously took part in the Shenzhou-15 mission launched in November 2022, during which he spent six months in orbit.
For taikonaut Wu Fei, this was his first Spring Festival in orbit, an experience he described as both novel and a source of pride. "The Year of the Horse calls for the spirit of a galloping steed. Let us keep striving towards our dreams and working for happiness," said the young flight engineer. "May the road ahead be safe and smooth, and may your lives grow better with each passing day."
This was also the first time payload specialist Zhang Hongzhang celebrated the Lunar New Year in space. Noting that scientific experiments aboard the space station were progressing smoothly, the bespectacled taikonaut with a fondness for poetry said, "In the new year, we will continue exploring the cosmos like galloping horses, writing new chapters across the vast starry sky." As a scientist turned taikonaut, he also expressed hopes for the advancement of China's scientific and technological endeavours, saying, "May every effort bear fruit."
This marks the fourth Spring Festival celebrated by taikonauts aboard Tiangong since the space station was completed in 2022.
Though far from home, these space explorers felt the same warmth of celebration as people on Earth.
The three Shenzhou-21 crew members decorated the space station with red lanterns, Chinese knots, and paper-cut crafts. They also enjoyed traditions they would normally share with their families on Earth, such as eating dumplings and festive dishes symbolising prosperity, peace, and good fortune.
Compared with previous crews, the Shenzhou-21 team had one additional dish on their table — a freshly baked cake from the space oven.
Launched on 31 October 2025, the Shenzhou-21 crew's space voyage has surpassed 100 days. All tasks, including scientific experiments, equipment maintenance, and health management, are proceeding smoothly, according to CMSA.
The Shenzhou-21 crew aboard the Tiangong space station, meaning Heavenly Palace, celebrated the arrival of the Lunar New Year, which this year marks the Year of the Horse. On Monday (16 February), Lunar New Year's Eve, the three taikonauts sent their greetings to Earth via a video released by the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).
"May everyone receive the best and find peace," said commander Zhang Lu. This was his second time celebrating the festival in space. Zhang previously took part in the Shenzhou-15 mission launched in November 2022, during which he spent six months in orbit.
For taikonaut Wu Fei, this was his first Spring Festival in orbit, an experience he described as both novel and a source of pride. "The Year of the Horse calls for the spirit of a galloping steed. Let us keep striving towards our dreams and working for happiness," said the young flight engineer. "May the road ahead be safe and smooth, and may your lives grow better with each passing day."
This was also the first time payload specialist Zhang Hongzhang celebrated the Lunar New Year in space. Noting that scientific experiments aboard the space station were progressing smoothly, the bespectacled taikonaut with a fondness for poetry said, "In the new year, we will continue exploring the cosmos like galloping horses, writing new chapters across the vast starry sky." As a scientist turned taikonaut, he also expressed hopes for the advancement of China's scientific and technological endeavours, saying, "May every effort bear fruit."
This marks the fourth Spring Festival celebrated by taikonauts aboard Tiangong since the space station was completed in 2022.
Though far from home, these space explorers felt the same warmth of celebration as people on Earth.
The three Shenzhou-21 crew members decorated the space station with red lanterns, Chinese knots, and paper-cut crafts. They also enjoyed traditions they would normally share with their families on Earth, such as eating dumplings and festive dishes symbolising prosperity, peace, and good fortune.
Compared with previous crews, the Shenzhou-21 team had one additional dish on their table — a freshly baked cake from the space oven.
Launched on 31 October 2025, the Shenzhou-21 crew's space voyage has surpassed 100 days. All tasks, including scientific experiments, equipment maintenance, and health management, are proceeding smoothly, according to CMSA.