China Honors Shenzhou-18 Astronauts with Prestigious Medals
The three astronauts of China's Shenzhou-18 mission—Ye Guangfu, Li Cong, and Li Guangsu—were awarded medals on Thursday for their outstanding contributions to the nation's space endeavors.
Ye Guangfu received a second-class aerospace achievement medal, while Li Cong and Li Guangsu were each awarded third-class aerospace achievement medals and the honorary title of \"Heroic Astronaut.\" Ye, a seasoned astronaut, had previously been honored with the title of \"Heroic Astronaut\" in 2022.
The awards were conferred by the Communist Party of China Central Committee, the State Council, and the Central Military Commission, recognizing the astronauts' dedication and achievements.
Historic Mission
China launched the Shenzhou-18 crewed spacecraft on April 25, 2024. This mission marked Ye Guangfu's second journey to China's space station, where he spent approximately six months. Ye became the first Chinese astronaut to have lived in orbit for over a year, having previously stayed aboard the space station for six months during the Shenzhou-13 mission.
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 notably installed the first space debris protection device on the space station during his first spacewalk.
Scientific Achievements
During their mission, the Shenzhou-18 crew conducted two extravehicular activities and carried out nearly 100 space science experiments and in-orbit application payload tests. Their work has significantly advanced China's space exploration capabilities and contributed valuable data to space science.
After spending a record-breaking 192 days in orbit, the astronaut trio returned to Earth on November 4, 2024.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
