China has awarded medals to the three astronauts of the Shenzhou-18 mission\u2014Ye Guangfu, Li Cong, and Li Guangsu\u2014for their outstanding contributions to the nation\u2019s space endeavors. The honors were bestowed on Thursday by the Communist Party of China Central Committee, the State Council, and the Central Military Commission.
Ye Guangfu, a seasoned astronaut, received a second-class aerospace achievement medal. Li Cong and Li Guangsu were each awarded third-class aerospace achievement medals and the honorary title of \"Heroic Astronaut.\" Ye was previously honored with the \"Heroic Astronaut\" title in 2022.
The Shenzhou-18 spacecraft was launched on April 25, 2024, marking Ye\u2019s second journey to China\u2019s space station. During this mission, he spent approximately six months aboard the station, bringing his total time in orbit to over a year\u2014the first Chinese astronaut to achieve this milestone.
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. Li Guangsu made significant contributions by installing the first space debris protection device on the space station during his first spacewalk.
Throughout the mission, the trio conducted two extravehicular activities and performed nearly 100 space science experiments and in-orbit application payload tests. Their efforts have been instrumental in advancing China\u2019s space exploration and scientific research capabilities.
After a record-breaking 192 days in orbit, the Shenzhou-18 crew returned to Earth on November 4, 2024. Their successful mission sets a new benchmark for long-duration spaceflight by Chinese astronauts.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
