In a ceremony held on Thursday, China honored the three astronauts of its Shenzhou-18 mission—Ye Guangfu, Li Cong, and Li Guangsu—with prestigious medals for their outstanding contributions to the nation's space exploration efforts.
Ye Guangfu received a second-class aerospace achievement medal, marking another accolade in his distinguished career. Li Cong and Li Guangsu were awarded third-class aerospace achievement medals along with the honorary title of \"Heroic Astronaut.\" This recognition highlights their exceptional performance during the mission, which was their first spaceflight experience.
The awards were conferred by the Communist Party of China Central Committee, the State Council, and the Central Military Commission, underscoring the significance of their achievements in advancing China's space ambitions.
Launched on April 25, 2024, the Shenzhou-18 mission was a pivotal moment for China's space endeavors. Commander Ye Guangfu embarked on his second journey to the country's space station, where he spent approximately six months. This mission made him the first Chinese astronaut to have lived in orbit for over a year, having previously spent six months aboard the station during the Shenzhou-13 mission.
For Li Cong, the youngest member of the crew, and Li Guangsu, the mission was a debut into space exploration. Li Cong demonstrated exemplary performance in completing all assigned tasks, while Li Guangsu made history by installing the first space debris protection device on the space station during his inaugural spacewalk.
Throughout their 192 days in orbit—a record-breaking duration—the trio conducted two extravehicular activities and carried out nearly 100 space science experiments and in-orbit application payload tests. Their efforts have significantly contributed to scientific research and the advancement of human understanding of space.
The astronauts safely returned to Earth on November 4, 2024, marking the successful completion of the Shenzhou-18 mission and setting new milestones in China's rapidly advancing space program.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
