China’s Shenzhou 21 spacecraft successfully docked with the Tiangong space station at a record speed, completing the maneuver in about 3.5 hours—three hours faster than previous missions.

The crew includes commander Zhang Lu, returning from Shenzhou 15, and two first-time astronauts: engineer Wu Fei, China’s youngest space traveler at 32, and payload specialist Zhang Hongzhang.

During their roughly six-month mission, the team will conduct 27 scientific experiments in biotechnology, aerospace medicine, and materials science, including monitoring four mice to study effects of weightlessness and confinement, the AP has reported.

The mission underscores China’s growing space ambitions, with plans for a lunar landing by 2030 and the future inclusion of a Pakistani astronaut on the station.