The Shenzhou 21 crew on the Tiangong Space Station is joyfully welcoming the Binh Ngo Lunar New Year. On the night of February 16th, right at the moment of New Year's Eve, 3 astronauts sent good wishes to people on Earth through a video released by the Chinese manned space agency.
I wish everyone all the best and peace," commander Truong Luc shared. This is the second time he has celebrated Tet in space. Previously, he participated in the Than Chau 15 launch mission in November 2022 and worked on orbit for 6 months.
For astronaut Ngo Phi, this is the first Tet on orbit, an experience he described as new and proud.
The Year of the Horse requires strong vitality like a galloping horse. Let's continue to strive for dreams and strive for happiness" - the young flight engineer shared. He also sent wishes for a safe, smooth journey and an increasingly better life for everyone.
This is also the first time weight expert Truong Hong Chuong has celebrated Tet in space. Noting that scientific experiments on the station are progressing stably, this poetic astronaut likened: "In the new year, we will continue to explore the universe like galloping horses, writing new chapters in the starry sky.
Coming from a scientist background, he also wished that the country's scientific and technological efforts would achieve many successes.
Notably, this is the fourth Tet that astronauts have celebrated on the space station since this place was completed in 2022. Although far from home, space explorers still feel the warmth of the festival like people on the ground.
The Than Chau 21 trio decorated the station with red lanterns, sandstone strings and paper cut paintings. They also maintained traditional customs such as eating dumplings and delicious dishes symbolizing prosperity and peace. Especially, compared to previous delegations, this year's menu of Than Chau 21 has a unique addition: fresh cream cake just baked in a specialized space oven.
Launched on October 31, 2025, the journey of the Shenzhou 21 crew has exceeded 100 days. According to the space agency, all missions including scientific experiments, equipment maintenance and health management are progressing smoothly.
