In a momentous ceremony on Thursday, China awarded medals to the three astronauts of the Shenzhou-18 mission—Ye Guangfu, Li Cong, and Li Guangsu—for their exceptional contributions to the nation's space endeavors.
Ye Guangfu received a second-class aerospace achievement medal, while Li Cong and Li Guangsu were honored with third-class aerospace achievement medals and the prestigious title of \"Heroic Astronaut.\" Ye, a veteran astronaut, had previously been awarded the \"Heroic Astronaut\" title in 2022.
The accolades were bestowed by the Communist Party of China Central Committee, the State Council, and the Central Military Commission, recognizing the astronauts' dedication and achievements during the Shenzhou-18 mission.
Launched on April 25, 2024, the Shenzhou-18 mission marked Ye's second journey to China's space station. He became the country's first astronaut to have lived in orbit for over a year, after spending approximately six months on the station during both the Shenzhou-13 and Shenzhou-18 missions.
For Li Cong and Li Guangsu, Shenzhou-18 was their inaugural spaceflight. As the youngest crew member, Li Cong excelled in completing all assigned tasks, while Li Guangsu made history by successfully installing the first space debris protection device on the space station during his maiden spacewalk.
Throughout their 192-day mission, the trio conducted two extravehicular activities and performed nearly 100 space science experiments and in-orbit application payload tests. Their efforts contributed significantly to China’s advancing space exploration and scientific research.
The astronauts returned safely to Earth on November 4, 2024, setting a new national record for the longest time spent in orbit by a Chinese crew.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
