China's Shenzhou-19 astronauts captivated global audiences during their first post-mission press conference on Wednesday, revealing new details about their historic 183-day orbital mission. Commander Cai Xuzhe, Pilot Song Lingdong, and Mission Specialist Wang Haoze appeared in high spirits as they discussed technological breakthroughs and human resilience in space.
The crew set a new world record for longest single extravehicular activity (EVA) duration during three spacewalks, while conducting over 70 scientific experiments. Their work included testing a pioneering space pipeline robot system that could revolutionize orbital station maintenance.
Commander Cai emphasized the mission's collaborative spirit: Our success stems from seamless teamwork and shared commitment to advancing China's space program. Pilot Song described the emotional impact of his first spacewalk: Opening that airlock hatch felt like stepping into generations of collective aerospace aspirations.
Wang highlighted the mission's technical legacy: We've validated technologies that will support long-term space habitation. Every experiment brings us closer to solving challenges of extraterrestrial operations.
Launched from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in October 2024, the mission concluded with a smooth April 2025 landing. The astronauts' successful rehabilitation marks progress in China's human spaceflight recovery protocols, with implications for future deep-space exploration.
