China's Shenzhou 16 mission astronauts have returned safely to Earth after a six-month journey aboard the Tiangong space station. The return capsule landed at the edge of the Gobi Desert near the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, as reported by the Xinhua News Agency. The three Chinese astronauts, also known as taikonauts, including Zhu Yangzhu, Gui Haichao, and mission commander Jing Haiping, have completed their mission that began with a launch in May 2023 aboard a Long March 2F rocket.
Tiangong, China's space station, is approximately one-fifth the size of the International Space Station, serving as China's independent space laboratory after not participating in the collaborative space project. The construction of Tiangong in low Earth orbit took around 18 months, and it was officially completed in late 2022 with the addition of the Mengtian module.
The replacement crew, Shenzhou 17, arrived at Tiangong on October 26, led by mission commander Tang Hongbo, who is 48 years old. This mission is significant as it is the seventh and youngest crew to visit Tiangong. The team also includes former People's Liberation Army Air Force fighter pilot Tang Shengjie and Jiang Xinline, aged 34 and 35, respectively. During their stay, the new crew will conduct various scientific experiments, including a spacewalk to inspect and potentially repair the station's solar arrays, which have sustained minor, albeit expected, damage due to increased space debris.
During the welcome ceremony, both crews expressed their dedication to "build a dream at the Tiangong space station and continue to work hard." They emphasized that "China's space station is always worth looking forward to."
Tiangong, China's space station, is approximately one-fifth the size of the International Space Station, serving as China's independent space laboratory after not participating in the collaborative space project. The construction of Tiangong in low Earth orbit took around 18 months, and it was officially completed in late 2022 with the addition of the Mengtian module.
The replacement crew, Shenzhou 17, arrived at Tiangong on October 26, led by mission commander Tang Hongbo, who is 48 years old. This mission is significant as it is the seventh and youngest crew to visit Tiangong. The team also includes former People's Liberation Army Air Force fighter pilot Tang Shengjie and Jiang Xinline, aged 34 and 35, respectively. During their stay, the new crew will conduct various scientific experiments, including a spacewalk to inspect and potentially repair the station's solar arrays, which have sustained minor, albeit expected, damage due to increased space debris.
During the welcome ceremony, both crews expressed their dedication to "build a dream at the Tiangong space station and continue to work hard." They emphasized that "China's space station is always worth looking forward to."
