China has awarded medals to the three astronauts of the Shenzhou-18 mission—Ye Guangfu, Li Cong, and Li Guangsu—for their outstanding contributions to the nation's space endeavors. The ceremony took place on Thursday, recognizing their exceptional achievements during the mission.
Ye Guangfu received a second-class aerospace achievement medal, adding to his previous honors, including the title of \"Heroic Astronaut\" awarded in 2022. Meanwhile, first-time space travelers Li Cong and Li Guangsu were honored with third-class aerospace achievement medals and were also bestowed with the prestigious title of \"Heroic Astronaut.\"
The awards were granted by the Communist Party of China Central Committee, the State Council, and the Central Military Commission, highlighting the significance of the Shenzhou-18 mission in China's ambitious space program.
The Shenzhou-18 spacecraft was launched on April 25, 2024, marking Ye's second journey to China's space station. During this mission, he spent approximately six months in orbit, making him the first Chinese astronaut to have accumulated over a year in space, following his earlier six-month stay during the Shenzhou-13 mission.
For Li Cong and Li Guangsu, the mission was their maiden voyage into space. Li Cong, the youngest crew member, successfully completed all assigned tasks, demonstrating remarkable skill and dedication. Li Guangsu made significant contributions 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 for China's crewed missions—the trio conducted two extravehicular activities and carried out nearly 100 space science experiments and in-orbit application payload tests. Their efforts have advanced China's capabilities in space exploration and contributed valuable scientific data.
The Shenzhou-18 crew returned to Earth on November 4, 2024, after their extended mission, further solidifying China's position as a major player in space exploration.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
