3 Astronauts From China Return to Earth After Nearly 7 Months in Space, a Record for a Chinese Crew
The crew completed experiments, data transfers and three spacewalks before handing over station duties to Shenzhou 23.
- On Friday, the Shenzhou 21 crew returned to Earth, touching down at the Dongfeng landing site in Inner Mongolia, China, after nearly seven months aboard the Tiangong space station.
- Before returning, the astronauts completed a handover with the Shenzhou 23 crew on Monday; one crew member set a record by completing seven spacewalks total.
- Lai Ka-ying, the first astronaut from Hong Kong on a space mission, is now operating Tiangong as part of the Shenzhou 23 crew, with one member scheduled to remain in orbit for one year.
- Targeting its first lunar landing by 2030, China continues to accelerate its space program, with Tiangong missions underscoring independent capabilities despite exclusion from the International Space Station.
- Zhang Hongzhang stated, "Looking at Earth from space, I really felt that humanity is an indivisible community with a shared future," as the crew thanked families and project leaders.
16 Articles
16 Articles
Associated Press News
3 astronauts from China return to Earth after nearly 7 months in space, a record for a Chinese crew
Three Chinese astronauts have returned to Earth after spending seven months in space. They set a record for the longest on-orbit stay by a Chinese crew.
The Chinese crew of the Shenzhou-21 mission landed in the Dongfeng camp in northern Inner Mongolia.
The crew carried out three extravehicular exits, in addition to numerous experiments on life in space, research on the human body and physics in microgravity
Shenzhou-21 & 23 Crews Complete In-Orbit Handover
Shenzhou-21 & 23 Crews Complete In-Orbit Handover | China Space StationChina's Shenzhou-21 and Shenzhou-23 astronaut crews held a handover ceremony on May 28, 2026, where the Shenzhou-21 crew transferred the key of the country's space station. The Shenzhou-21 crew has now completed all planned tasks. The three astronauts will take the Shenzhou-22 spacecraft and return to the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region…
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