Chinese Astronauts Return Home After Half a Year in Space!
- The three astronauts, Ye Guangfu, Li Cong, and Li Guangsu, returned early Monday after their six-month mission.
- They shared the space station with another crew and conducted various scientific experiments.
- The successful return marks a significant achievement in China's ongoing space exploration efforts.
Three astronauts from China's Shenzhou-18 mission successfully returned to Earth after spending six months aboard the Tiangong space station. They touched down at the Dongfeng landing site in northern China shortly after midnight on November 4, 2024. During their time in space, the crew shared the station with another crew from the Shenzhou-19 mission for several days. They conducted 28 scientific projects, including advancements in space fiber lasers and research on the feasibility of human life in extended space missions. The Chinese Manned Space Agency reported that all astronauts were in good health upon their return. The astronauts also completed emergency drills and documented views of notable locations on Earth, including the Gobi Desert and various launch sites. China's Tiangong space station is 20% the size of the International Space Station and is set for future expansions with new modules and a Hubble-class space telescope.