The crew aboard China's Tiangong space station observed the cherished Mid-Autumn Festival on October 6, 2025, from their orbital sanctuary approximately 400 kilometers above Earth. This annual observance, known as the Mooncake Festival and deeply rooted in the Chinese lunisolar calendar, was celebrated within the high-tech confines of the orbiting laboratory. Commander Chen Dong, along with taikonauts Chen Zhongrui and Wang Jie, utilized their unique vantage point to uphold tradition, sharing a specially prepared festive meal and sending warm wishes back to Earth.
The celebration underscored the enduring human need for connection and ritual, even while suspended between worlds. The festive menu blended familiar comforts with space-age logistics, reportedly featuring dishes such as white king oyster mushrooms, savory braised pork, and black pepper beef fillet. Central to the observance were traditional mooncakes, specifically those filled with sweet red bean paste, which served to bridge the physical gap between the station and the festivities occurring across China.
Commander Chen Dong articulated the crew's sentiment, noting that despite their physical distance from their homeland, their thoughts remained tethered to Earth as they gazed from one home to another. The mission, designated Shenzhou-20, launched on April 24, 2025, and is scheduled to conclude its planned six-month tenure aboard Tiangong toward the end of October 2025, marking a significant period of sustained human presence in low Earth orbit.
Since becoming operational in 2022 under the China National Space Administration (CNSA), the Tiangong station has remained a cornerstone for China's human space exploration and scientific research. The Shenzhou-20 crew has maintained a rigorous schedule, balancing diverse scientific experiments and vital extravehicular activities with the continuity of cultural observance. This ability to uphold tradition while executing complex scientific duties highlights the crew's refined capacity for adaptation and focus during long-duration spaceflight.