China has honored the three astronauts of the Shenzhou-18 mission with prestigious medals for their remarkable contributions to the nation's space endeavors. The awards were announced on Thursday by the Communist Party of China Central Committee, the State Council, and the Central Military Commission.
Veteran astronaut Ye Guangfu received a second-class aerospace achievement medal, adding to his earlier honorary title of \"Heroic Astronaut\" bestowed in 2022. His crewmates, Li Cong and Li Guangsu, were each awarded third-class aerospace achievement medals and the honorary title of \"Heroic Astronaut\" for their outstanding performance during the mission.
The Shenzhou-18 spacecraft was launched on April 25, 2024, marking Ye's second journey to China's space station. During this mission, Ye spent approximately six months in orbit, becoming the first Chinese astronaut to have accumulated over a year in space, following his previous six-month stay during the Shenzhou-13 mission.
For Li Cong and Li Guangsu, Shenzhou-18 was their inaugural space flight. Li Cong, the youngest member of the crew, successfully completed all assigned tasks, demonstrating exceptional skill and dedication. Li Guangsu made significant contributions by installing the first space debris protection device on the space station during his maiden spacewalk.
Throughout their 192-day mission, the Shenzhou-18 crew conducted two extravehicular activities and carried out nearly 100 space science experiments and in-orbit application payload tests. Their efforts have advanced China's position in space exploration and provided valuable data for future missions.
The astronaut trio returned to Earth on November 4, 2024, setting a new national record for the longest stay in orbit by Chinese astronauts.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
