Shenzhou-23 Crew Perform First Emergency Drill, Support Cell Biology Research
Summary: The Shenzhou-23 crew aboard Chinas Tiangong space station conducted their first emergency drill and progressed cell biology research with sample observation and retrieval.
According to information released by the China Manned Space Agency on June 14, 2026, the Shenzhou-23 crew — Zhu Yangzhu, Zhang Zhiyuan, and Lai Ka Ying — completed their first whole-system pressure emergency drill aboard the Tiangong space station since arriving on orbit. The drill covered multiple station modules and was designed to verify the crew's in-orbit emergency response capabilities, ensuring that astronauts can execute standardized contingency procedures in critical situations.
In the realm of scientific research, the crew continued to advance a cell biology experiment by conducting sample observation, retrieval, and cryopreservation. They also completed the installation of an extravehicular space radiation biology exposure experiment platform, which will be used to study the effects of space radiation on biological specimens, including changes in cellular metabolism, adaptive evolution, and genetic variation in higher plants.
Shenzhou-23 launched on May 25, 2026, and the three crew members have been on orbit for more than three weeks. Prior to beginning their work, the Shenzhou-22 and Shenzhou-23 crews completed an in-orbit handover. The current phase represents one segment of a broader schedule of scientific experiments and on-orbit maintenance tasks planned for the Shenzhou-23 mission.