China's taikonauts return after pioneering 192‑day space mission
Three taikonauts from the Shenzhou-18 mission safely landed in the Gobi Desert near Dongfeng, marking the end of their six-month stay on China's space station, Tiangong, where they conducted a series of significant scientific experiments.
4 November 2024 14:22
Between Sunday night and Monday morning, at 7:24 AM on Sunday Eastern Time, the Shenzhou-18 mission capsule touched down in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, as reported by Xinhua. The crew spent 192 days on the Tiangong station, setting new records for the Chinese space program.
The mission was led by 43-year-old Ye Guangfu, who became the first Chinese astronaut to spend more than 365 days in space with this flight, having previously been a member of the Shenzhou-13 mission in 2021-2022. He was accompanied by two newcomers: 34-year-old Li Cong and 36-year-old Li Guangsu, both of whom are fighter pilots.
During the mission, the crew conducted numerous scientific experiments, including studies of ancient microbes. At the end of May, Ye and Li conducted a record-breaking 8.5-hour spacewalk outside the Tiangong station. In June, during another outing, they installed protective shields against space debris.
China plans further space expansion
Less than an hour after landing, the taikonauts exited the capsule. They were then transported to Beijing, where, according to state media, they will undergo comprehensive medical examinations and recovery.
Since October 30, a new crew has been working on the Tiangong station, having arrived on the Shenzhou-19 spacecraft. This crew includes commander 48-year-old Cai Xuzhe, a participant in the Shenzhou-14 mission, and two newcomers: air force pilot Song Lingdong and scientist Wang Haoze, both born in the 1990s. 34-year-old Wang is the third Chinese woman to participate in spaceflight and the first female spaceflight engineer.
