Xi's New Year message inspires China's Shenzhou-21 astronauts

China’s Shenzhou-21 crew aboard the Tiangong space station said President Xi Jinping’s New Year message delivered on Wednesday has inspired them to spare no effort in fulfilling their missions in space.

Launched on November 1, 2025, the Shenzhou-21 spacecraft carries three astronauts for a six-month mission at China’s orbiting space station. The crew includes mission commander Zhang Lu, and astronauts Wu Fei and Zhang Hongzhang, serving as space pilot, flight engineer, and payload specialist, respectively—representing the three categories of Chinese astronauts currently deployed in the country’s space programs.

The astronauts said they are committed to taking practical actions and making new contributions to building China into a space power.

“We watched President Xi’s New Year message at the space station. He mentioned that ‘we integrated science and technology deeply with industries, and made a stream of new innovations,’ which greatly inspired us and strengthened our determination to explore the vast cosmos and build China into a space power. We will live up to our mission, forge ahead with courage, and make new contributions,” said Zhang Lu.

“Over the past two months in orbit, we conducted our first extravehicular activity and have been advancing a series of space experiments. As an astronaut in space for the first time, every day is a part of growth. In the remaining time in orbit, I will complete every task diligently and live up to the trust of my country and people,” said Wu Fei.

“For the first time, I’m welcoming the New Year in space. Looking at the blue Earth and dazzling starry sky through the porthole, I feel grateful to my great motherland. I will ensure absolute safety every day and every second in orbit and write a proud new chapter in space exploration,” said Zhang Hongzhang.

—China Central Television (CCTV), Other/Reuters