The crew of China's Shenzhou-21 mission sent Chinese New Year greetings in a video message recorded aboard the China Space Station.

Mission commander Zhang Lu and astronauts Wu Fei and Zhang Hongzhang expressed their wishes amid festive decorations marking the festival. This year's celebrations mark the fourth Spring Festival observed in orbit since the space station's completion.

The crew decorated their "space home" with traditional red couplets and the character 福 (fu), symbolizing good fortune. "As the Chinese New Year arrives, I wish everyone success in all things and peace and safety," Zhang Lu said, noting that it's his second Chinese New Year in space.

For Wu Fei, it is a first. "I wish all those who pursue their dreams peace and smooth journeys, and a life that grows more prosperous by the day," he said. Zhang Hongzhang described celebrating the festival in orbit as "the most precious experience," and added that in the year ahead the team would "continue exploring the cosmos and write a new chapter among the stars."

Since launching on October 31, 2025, the Shenzhou-21 crew's stay in space has exceeded 100 days. According to mission updates, scientific experiments, platform maintenance, equipment servicing, and crew health management have been proceeding smoothly and on schedule.