China has honored the three astronauts of the Shenzhou-18 mission with prestigious medals for 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.
Ye Guangfu, the mission's commander and a veteran astronaut, received a second-class aerospace achievement medal. Ye, who previously earned the honorary title of \"Heroic Astronaut\" in 2022, led the crew on his second journey to China's space station, where he lived for approximately six months. His combined time in space, including his participation in the Shenzhou-13 mission, makes him the country's first astronaut to have lived in orbit for over a year.
Li Cong and Li Guangsu, both embarking on their first spaceflight missions, were awarded third-class aerospace achievement medals and the honorary title of \"Heroic Astronaut.\" Li Cong, the youngest member of the crew, successfully completed all assigned tasks, while Li Guangsu made significant strides by installing the first space debris protection device on the space station during his inaugural spacewalk.
Launched on April 25, 2024, the Shenzhou-18 mission marked a series of milestones in China's rapidly advancing space program. During their 192 days in orbit—a record-breaking duration for the nation—the trio conducted two extravehicular activities and carried out nearly 100 space science experiments and in-orbit application payload tests.
The astronauts safely returned to Earth on November 4, 2024, heralding a new chapter in China's pursuit of space exploration and technology development. Their achievements underscore China's commitment to expanding its presence in space and contribute valuable data and experience for future missions.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
