China has honored the three astronauts of the Shenzhou-18 mission with prestigious medals for their significant contributions to the nation's space endeavors. On Thursday, astronauts Ye Guangfu, Li Cong, and Li Guangsu received accolades recognizing their achievements during the mission.
Ye Guangfu was awarded a second-class aerospace achievement medal, marking his continued excellence in space exploration. Fellow astronauts Li Cong and Li Guangsu were each bestowed with third-class aerospace achievement medals and honored with the title of \"Heroic Astronaut.\" Ye had previously been named \"Heroic Astronaut\" in 2022.
The commendations were jointly announced by the Communist Party of China Central Committee, the State Council, and the Central Military Commission, highlighting the national significance of their accomplishments.
The Shenzhou-18 manned spacecraft was launched on April 25, 2024, carrying the trio to China's space station for a mission lasting approximately six months. For Ye Guangfu, this voyage marked his second journey to the station, making him the first Chinese astronaut to have spent over a year in orbit, after his initial six-month mission aboard Shenzhou-13.
For Li Cong and Li Guangsu, Shenzhou-18 was their inaugural spaceflight. Li Cong, the youngest of the crew, successfully completed all assigned tasks, demonstrating remarkable skill and dedication. Li Guangsu made significant contributions by installing the station's first space debris protection device during his maiden spacewalk.
Throughout their mission, the crew conducted two extravehicular activities and carried out nearly 100 scientific experiments and in-orbit application tests, advancing China's space science and technology capabilities.
After a record-breaking 192 days in space, the Shenzhou-18 crew safely returned to Earth on November 4, 2024, marking another milestone in China's ambitious space program.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
