China honored the three astronauts of its Shenzhou-18 mission on Thursday, awarding them medals for their exceptional contributions to the nation's space endeavors.
Veteran astronaut Ye Guangfu was bestowed with a second-class aerospace achievement medal. His crewmates, Li Cong and Li Guangsu, received third-class aerospace achievement medals and the honorary title of \"Heroic Astronaut.\" Ye, who had previously earned the \"Heroic Astronaut\" title in 2022, further cemented his legacy with this recognition.
The honors were conferred by the Communist Party of China Central Committee, the State Council, and the Central Military Commission, acknowledging the crew's remarkable achievements during their mission.
The Shenzhou-18 crewed spacecraft was launched on April 25, 2024. This mission marked Ye Guangfu's second journey to China's space station, where he spent approximately six months. Combined with his previous six-month stay during the Shenzhou-13 mission, Ye became the country's first astronaut to have lived in orbit for over a year.
For Li Cong and Li Guangsu, Shenzhou-18 was their inaugural spaceflight mission. Li Cong, the youngest member of the crew, successfully completed all assigned tasks, showcasing his skill and dedication. Li Guangsu made history by installing the first space debris protection device on the space station during his first spacewalk.
Throughout their 192-day mission, the trio conducted two extravehicular activities and carried out nearly 100 space science experiments and in-orbit application payload tests. Their efforts contributed significantly to China's growing capabilities in space exploration and scientific research.
The astronauts safely returned to Earth on November 4, 2024, setting a new national record for the longest manned space mission by spending 192 days in orbit.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
