China’s Shenzhou-20 astronauts are poised to set a historic milestone, surpassing the country’s previous record for the longest continuous stay in space. The crew, now in orbit for 188 days, is completing final preparations for their return to Earth after a mission marked by groundbreaking scientific achievements and operational successes.
Historic Milestones in Orbit
Mission commander Chen Dong has become the first Chinese astronaut to accumulate over 400 days in space across multiple missions, completing six spacewalks — the most by any Chinese astronaut. His crewmates, Chen Zhongrui and Wang Jie, both first-time spacefarers, executed four spacewalks and seven cargo transfers between the spacecraft and modules of China’s space station.
Operational and Scientific Triumphs
The crew installed critical equipment, including debris protection devices on the Wentian lab module and efficiency-boosting tools like foot restraint adapters. Their scientific work yielded breakthroughs: high-quality protein crystals grown in microgravity could advance cancer research, while a tungsten alloy experiment achieved a record 3,100°C heating in space. Researchers also observed novel colloidal crystal structures under microgravity, offering insights for material science.
Return Preparations Underway
With crew rotation plans progressing, the mission highlights China’s expanding capabilities in human spaceflight. The China Manned Space Agency confirmed all systems are functioning smoothly, with astronauts in optimal health as they conclude this landmark mission.
