The three crew members of China's Shenzhou-18 mission—Ye Guangfu, Li Cong, and Li Guangsu—were awarded medals on Thursday for their significant contributions to the country'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 seasoned astronaut, had previously been bestowed with the \"Heroic Astronaut\" title 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 in advancing China's space exploration.
Launched on April 25, 2024, the Shenzhou-18 crewed spaceship marked Ye's second journey to China's space station. During this mission, he resided in space for approximately six months. Combined with his prior six-month stay during the Shenzhou-13 mission, Ye became the first Chinese astronaut to have lived in orbit for over a year.
For both Li Cong and Li Guangsu, Shenzhou-18 was their inaugural spaceflight mission. Li Cong, the youngest crew member, successfully completed all assigned tasks, while Li Guangsu made history 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 carried out nearly 100 space science experiments and in-orbit application payload tests. Their efforts have significantly contributed to the advancement of China's space station and its scientific research capabilities.
After a record-breaking 192 days in orbit, the Shenzhou-18 astronauts safely returned to Earth on November 4, 2024, marking a new milestone in the nation's space exploration history.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
