Mice on space crew: China launches youngest astronaut on Shenzhou-21 with four small mammals; first for Tiangong

China on Friday launched its Shenzhou-21 crewed mission to the Tiangong space station, sending three astronauts - including the youngest member of its astronaut corps - into orbit aboard a Long March-2F rocket from the Jiuquan satellite launch centre in northwest China, according to state media reports. The mission marks the seventh crewed flight to the Chinese space station since its completion in 2022. Commanding the mission is Zhang Lu, 48, who previously flew on Shenzhou-15, while first-timers Zhang Hongzhang, 39, and Wu Fei, 32 - China’s youngest astronaut to enter space - complete the trio. Both were selected for the program in 2020. The astronauts will replace the Shenzhou-20 crew, who have spent over six months aboard Tiangong, or “Heavenly Palace,” and are set to return to Ear