The Shenzhou program is China's crewed spaceflight initiative, developed by the China National Space Administration (CNSA). It aims to send astronauts, known as taikonauts, into space to conduct scientific research and technology demonstrations. The program began in the late 1990s and has successfully launched multiple missions since its first crewed flight in 2003. Each Shenzhou spacecraft is designed to carry three astronauts and can operate in low Earth orbit. The program has played a crucial role in advancing China's capabilities in space exploration, including the construction of the Tiangong space station, which serves as a platform for long-term human presence in space.