China completes first emergency mission to Tiangong space station

Shenzhou-22 launched with medical supplies and items to repair a crack on Shenzhou-20, currently docked at Tiangong. Fresh food, including fruits, vegetables, chicken wings, and cake, was also sent for astronauts to cook with a "space oven."

The spacecraft will dock until about April 2026, when it will ferry the Shenzhou-21 crew back to Earth.

China's Shenzhou missions since 2021 have had astronauts stay for six months. Recent launches have become quicker, taking 16 days due to efficient protocols.

The US and China are monitoring each other's space advancements as both aim to land astronauts on the moon by 2030.