China has honored the three astronauts of the Shenzhou-18 mission with prestigious medals in recognition of their exceptional contributions to the nation's space endeavors. The awards were presented 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 previous honorary title of \"Heroic Astronaut\" awarded in 2022. His crewmates, Li Cong and Li Guangsu, were each bestowed with third-class aerospace achievement medals and the honorary title of \"Heroic Astronaut.\"
The Shenzhou-18 spacecraft was launched on April 25, 2024, marking Ye's second journey to China's space station. As the mission's commander, Ye spent approximately six months aboard the station. Combined with his time during the Shenzhou-13 mission, he becomes China's first astronaut to have lived in orbit for over a year.
For Li Cong and Li Guangsu, Shenzhou-18 was their inaugural spaceflight. Li Cong, the youngest member of the crew, 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 maiden spacewalk.
Throughout their 192-day mission, the Shenzhou-18 crew set a new national record for time spent in orbit. They conducted two extravehicular activities and completed nearly 100 space science experiments and in-orbit application payload tests. Their efforts have advanced China's space exploration and contributed valuable data for future missions.
The trio returned to Earth on November 4, 2024, after their record-breaking mission, bringing home new insights and achievements that have furthered China's position in the realm of space exploration.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
