China has awarded the three astronauts of the Shenzhou-18 mission with prestigious medals for their exceptional contributions to the nation's space endeavors. On Thursday, Ye Guangfu, Li Cong, and Li Guangsu were honored in a ceremony recognizing their historic achievements during the mission.
Ye Guangfu, the mission's commander and a veteran astronaut, received a second-class aerospace achievement medal. This marks his second time receiving the honorary title of \"Heroic Astronaut,\" having first been honored in 2022. His leadership and experience were pivotal to the mission's success.
First-time astronauts Li Cong and Li Guangsu were each awarded third-class aerospace achievement medals and bestowed with the honorary title of \"Heroic Astronaut.\" Li Cong, the youngest member of the crew, excelled in all assigned tasks, while Li Guangsu successfully installed the first space debris protection device on the space station during his inaugural spacewalk.
The awards were conferred by the Communist Party of China Central Committee, the State Council, and the Central Military Commission, underscoring the national significance of their accomplishments.
Launched on April 25, 2024, the Shenzhou-18 mission marked a significant milestone in China's space exploration efforts. Commander Ye embarked on his second journey to the Chinese space station, where he spent approximately six months. Combined with his previous six-month stay during the Shenzhou-13 mission, Ye has become China's first astronaut to have lived in orbit for over a year.
During their 192 days in orbit—a record-breaking duration for a Chinese crew—the astronauts conducted two extravehicular activities and completed nearly 100 space science experiments and in-orbit application payload tests. Their work has contributed substantially to the advancement of China's space science and technology.
The Shenzhou-18 crew returned to Earth on November 4, 2024, safely landing after their extended mission. Their achievements continue to inspire China's ongoing commitment to space exploration and scientific innovation.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
