"I am filled with a thrill and anticipation for the new mission," said the crew commander.
The Shenzhou-21 manned spaceship is scheduled to be launched at 11:44 p.m. Friday (Beijing Time) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China.
Being crew commander is "primarily about responsibility," said Zhang. "Leading two younger crewmates to the space station, a path fraught with challenges, I must be prepared to make the right call at any moment."
He is set to build on his record as one of China's most experienced astronauts in terms of spacewalking, while also seeking to solidify the country's manned space program via even more milestones.
Zhang was aboard the Shenzhou-15 spacecraft launched in November 2022, accumulating 186 days on the Tiangong space station complex. Along with commander Fei Junlong, he participated in four spacewalks.
During the Shenzhou-21 mission, Zhang is expected to set a new personal milestone for spacewalks. He revealed that the crew will continue installing protective panels on the space station -- aiming to fully equip it with a "shield" to enhance its structural resilience.
The mission will also debut next-gen spacesuits, conduct in-orbit monitoring of four mice -- and even feature the novelty of having grilled food in space.
Zhang described "undertaking a space mission for my nation once again" as "the highest conceivable honor."
Following the Shenzhou-15 mission, he dedicated himself to physical recovery and resumed a full training regimen -- including underwater and centrifuge exercises.
"Every session is a new starting point, not a simple repetition," said Zhang, who has completed dozens of underwater training sessions.
"I hold myself to the standard of achieving the highest possible marks in all training," he added.
Prior to his space career, Zhang was a first-class pilot in the PLA Air Force, and was selected as a member of China's second astronaut cohort in 2010. In 2023, he received the title of "heroic astronaut."
Born in 1976 in Hanshou, a county in central China's Hunan Province, Zhang is gifted with a beautiful voice and loves singing. On his last mission, Zhang composed and performed a song for his wife in celebration of their wedding anniversary.
Set to spend his second Chinese New Year in orbit, Zhang is ready to display his romantic flair once again. Aside from a calligraphy display, the Shenzhou-21 crew have prepared a fresh approach to their festival greetings.
"I'll have to keep the details under wraps for now," he said.
Source: Xinhua
