China sends Shenzhou-22 to orbit, completing first emergency launch in its manned space program
Wire desk byline Sourced from Xinhua, Dawn, Arab News, Anadolu and Minute Mirror. Translated and abridged by the GSRRA Desk.
China launches the Shenzhou-22 spaceship from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on Nov. 25, 2025. (Photo by Li Minggang/Xinhua)
China launched the Shenzhou-22 spaceship from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China at 12:11 p.m. (Beijing Time) on Tuesday, successfully accomplishing the first emergency launch mission in the country’s manned space program.
About 10 minutes after the launch, the spaceship separated from the rocket and entered its designated orbit. The China Manned Space Agency declared the launch mission a complete success.
The spaceship, flying without a crew aboard, carried a cargo of space food, medical supplies, fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as devices for treating the cracked window on the Shenzhou-20 spaceship.
Shenzhou-22 will autonomously execute a fast-track rendezvous and docking with the space station complex.
The new spaceship will later serve as the return vessel for the three Shenzhou-21 astronauts currently in orbit.
The return mission of sending the three Shenzhou-20 astronauts back to Earth, initially scheduled on Nov. 5 by the Shenzhou-20 spaceship, was delayed following a suspected debris impact.
The Long March-2F Y22 rocket and the Shenzhou-22 spaceship — already on standby at the launch site — were swiftly brought to launch readiness, initiating a 16-day emergency launch sequence. ■
China launches the Shenzhou-22 spaceship from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on Nov. 25, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Minggang)
China launches the Shenzhou-22 spaceship from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on Nov. 25, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Minggang)
China launches the Shenzhou-22 spaceship from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on Nov. 25, 2025. (Photo by Wang Jiangbo/Xinhua)
China launches the Shenzhou-22 spaceship from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on Nov. 25, 2025. (Photo by Wang Jiangbo/Xinhua)
China launches the Shenzhou-22 spaceship from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on Nov. 25, 2025. (Photo by Wang Jiangbo/Xinhua)
China launches the Shenzhou-22 spaceship from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on Nov. 25, 2025. (Photo by Wang Jiangbo/Xinhua)
The Shenzhou-22 spaceship, atop a Long March-2F Y22 rocket, blasts off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, Nov. 25, 2025. China launched the Shenzhou-22 spaceship from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China at 12:11 p.m. (Beijing Time) on Tuesday, successfully accomplishing the first emergency launch mission in the country’s manned space program.
About 10 minutes after the launch, the spaceship separated from the rocket and entered its designated orbit. The China Manned Space Agency declared the launch mission a complete success. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen)
The Shenzhou-22 spaceship, atop a Long March-2F Y22 rocket, blasts off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, Nov. 25, 2025. China launched the Shenzhou-22 spaceship from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China at 12:11 p.m. (Beijing Time) on Tuesday, successfully accomplishing the first emergency launch mission in the country’s manned space program.
About 10 minutes after the launch, the spaceship separated from the rocket and entered its designated orbit. The China Manned Space Agency declared the launch mission a complete success. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen)
The Shenzhou-22 spaceship, atop a Long March-2F Y22 rocket, blasts off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, Nov. 25, 2025. China launched the Shenzhou-22 spaceship from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China at 12:11 p.m. (Beijing Time) on Tuesday, successfully accomplishing the first emergency launch mission in the country’s manned space program.
About 10 minutes after the launch, the spaceship separated from the rocket and entered its designated orbit. The China Manned Space Agency declared the launch mission a complete success. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen)
The Shenzhou-22 spaceship, atop a Long March-2F Y22 rocket, blasts off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, Nov. 25, 2025. China launched the Shenzhou-22 spaceship from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China at 12:11 p.m. (Beijing Time) on Tuesday, successfully accomplishing the first emergency launch mission in the country’s manned space program.
About 10 minutes after the launch, the spaceship separated from the rocket and entered its designated orbit. The China Manned Space Agency declared the launch mission a complete success. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen)
The Shenzhou-22 spaceship, atop a Long March-2F Y22 rocket, blasts off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, Nov. 25, 2025. China launched the Shenzhou-22 spaceship from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China at 12:11 p.m. (Beijing Time) on Tuesday, successfully accomplishing the first emergency launch mission in the country’s manned space program.
About 10 minutes after the launch, the spaceship separated from the rocket and entered its designated orbit. The China Manned Space Agency declared the launch mission a complete success. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen)
The Shenzhou-22 spaceship, atop a Long March-2F Y22 rocket, blasts off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, Nov. 25, 2025. China launched the Shenzhou-22 spaceship from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China at 12:11 p.m. (Beijing Time) on Tuesday, successfully accomplishing the first emergency launch mission in the country’s manned space program.
About 10 minutes after the launch, the spaceship separated from the rocket and entered its designated orbit. The China Manned Space Agency declared the launch mission a complete success. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen)
The Shenzhou-22 spaceship, atop a Long March-2F Y22 rocket, blasts off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, Nov. 25, 2025. China launched the Shenzhou-22 spaceship from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China at 12:11 p.m. (Beijing Time) on Tuesday, successfully accomplishing the first emergency launch mission in the country’s manned space program.
About 10 minutes after the launch, the spaceship separated from the rocket and entered its designated orbit. The China Manned Space Agency declared the launch mission a complete success. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen)
The Shenzhou-22 spaceship, atop a Long March-2F Y22 rocket, blasts off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, Nov. 25, 2025. China launched the Shenzhou-22 spaceship from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China at 12:11 p.m. (Beijing Time) on Tuesday, successfully accomplishing the first emergency launch mission in the country’s manned space program.
About 10 minutes after the launch, the spaceship separated from the rocket and entered its designated orbit. The China Manned Space Agency declared the launch mission a complete success. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen)
The Shenzhou-22 spaceship, atop a Long March-2F Y22 rocket, blasts off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, Nov. 25, 2025. China launched the Shenzhou-22 spaceship from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China at 12:11 p.m. (Beijing Time) on Tuesday, successfully accomplishing the first emergency launch mission in the country’s manned space program.
About 10 minutes after the launch, the spaceship separated from the rocket and entered its designated orbit. The China Manned Space Agency declared the launch mission a complete success. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen)
The Shenzhou-22 spaceship, atop a Long March-2F Y22 rocket, blasts off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, Nov. 25, 2025. China launched the Shenzhou-22 spaceship from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China at 12:11 p.m. (Beijing Time) on Tuesday, successfully accomplishing the first emergency launch mission in the country’s manned space program.
About 10 minutes after the launch, the spaceship separated from the rocket and entered its designated orbit. The China Manned Space Agency declared the launch mission a complete success. (Photo by He Gaobing/Xinhua)
The Shenzhou-22 spaceship, atop a Long March-2F Y22 rocket, blasts off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, Nov. 25, 2025. China launched the Shenzhou-22 spaceship from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China at 12:11 p.m. (Beijing Time) on Tuesday, successfully accomplishing the first emergency launch mission in the country’s manned space program.
About 10 minutes after the launch, the spaceship separated from the rocket and entered its designated orbit. The China Manned Space Agency declared the launch mission a complete success. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen)
Reference Link:- https://english.news.cn/20251125/e5991a0d7ae04202917c6dfb32c0ef4f/c.html
Zamir Ahmed Awan is the founder and Chair of the Global Silk Route Research Alliance, a think tank in Islamabad. He studied engineering at Shanghai University in the 1980s, and years later he went back to China as Pakistan's science counsellor in Beijing, from 2010 until 2016, working on science and higher education cooperation between the two countries.…
