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China successfully launches Shenzhou-22 spacecraft, marking 1st emergency launch in history of country's manned space program

Global Times

By Global Times Published: Nov 25, 2025 12:31 PM

China has successfully launched the Shenzhou-22 spacecraft at 12:11 pm on Tuesday from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, according to China Manned Space Agency. The launch came after the Chinese Space Station recently experienced its first major unexpected emergency, as Shenzhou-20 spacecraft was struck by space debris, disrupting its planned return. In response, the Shenzhou-20 crew successfully returned to Earth by "borrowing" the Shenzhou-21 spacecraft, while ground teams rapidly prepared for the launch of Shenzhou-22.

A few minutes after liftoff, the CMSA announced that the Shenzhou-22 spacecraft successfully separated from the Long March rocket and entered its planned orbit, marking a complete success for the launch mission.

This is the first emergency launch in the history of China's manned space program, the agency said.

According to previous media reports, the Shenzhou-22 spacecraft will be fully loaded with cargo, including food for in-orbit taikonauts and equipment for the space station. The Shenzhou spacecraft can deliver around 600 kilograms of supplies, sufficient to support the Shenzhou-21 crew in completing their mission. The arrival of Shenzhou-22 will also ensure the Shenzhou-21 crew can safely withdraw and continue to work and live securely in orbit.

On Monday, the mission logo for Shenzhou-22 was released to the public. The overall design, while continuing the visual aesthetics of China's space mission logos, creatively integrated emergency-response elements, expressing China's core value of "using aerospace capability to safeguard life" and reflecting both technological strength and humanistic care, according to Xinhua News Agency.

The logo integrated elements of China's aerospace identity with traditional cultural symbols. For example, the Great Wall serves as the base pattern, symbolizing a solemn commitment to astronaut safety.

In the color palette, blue represents aerospace science and technology, red signifies responsibility and mission, and orange highlights the rapid nature of emergency rescue, per Xinhua.

Some media also observed the inscription "TGYJ1/SZ-22" in the logo, which according to the reports, refer to the "Tiangong Emergency-1 / Shenzhou-22" mission.