Shenzhou 15

Shenzhou 15 was China's final crewed mission of the Tiangong space-station construction phase. The spacecraft launched from Jiuquan on November 29, 2022 with commander Fei Junlong, Deng Qingming, and Zhang Lu, then docked with the Tianhe core module after a fast automated rendezvous. The crew overlapped with Shenzhou 14 for China's first direct handover between resident crews aboard the station, bringing Tiangong to a large three-module, multi-spacecraft configuration. During the expedition, the crew supported long-term residence verification, unlocked and tested science experiment cabinets, carried out space-science and medical research, performed cargo-airlock and platform operations, and completed multiple EVAs to outfit the station exterior. Fei and Zhang Lu performed four spacewalks during the mission, while Deng supported the expedition's station operations from inside. The crew returned safely in June 2023, closing the construction phase and helping set up Tiangong's regular application and development era.